路透社：字节跳动估值超3300亿美元，Q2收入约480亿美元

Core Insights - ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, is set to launch a new employee stock buyback program, driven by continuous revenue growth, with a valuation exceeding $330 billion [1] - The company plans to offer existing employees shares at $200.41 each, a 5.5% increase from approximately $189.90 six months ago, when its valuation was around $315 billion [3] - The buyback is expected to start in the fall, with the second quarter revenue growing by 25%, solidifying ByteDance's position as the largest social media company globally [4] Financial Performance - ByteDance's second quarter revenue reached approximately $48 billion, primarily from the Chinese market, amidst political pressure regarding the divestment of its U.S. subsidiary [4] - In the first quarter, revenue increased to over $43 billion, surpassing Meta's $42.3 billion, making ByteDance the largest social media company by sales [4][5] - Strong advertising demand contributed to over 20% sales growth for both ByteDance and its competitors in the second quarter [5] Employee Retention and Market Position - The biannual stock buyback allows employees to cash out some of their holdings, reflecting the strengthening of the company's balance sheet due to expanding domestic and international operations [5] - Regular buybacks are becoming common for private companies to retain employees and provide liquidity without going public, with ByteDance uniquely using its own balance sheet for this purpose [6] - Despite surpassing Meta in revenue, ByteDance's valuation is still less than one-fifth of Meta's approximately $1.9 trillion market cap [7] Challenges and Future Outlook - While ByteDance is currently profitable, TikTok's U.S. operations have been operating at a loss, raising concerns among employees about the platform's uncertain future [7] - The new buyback program may help boost morale among U.S. employees who are apprehensive about TikTok's prospects [7]