Under the backdrop of the Chinese government’s emphasis on the digital economy and data elements, relevant ministries and commissions further clarify the policy framework for the inclusion of data assets in corporate financial statements in 2024, thereby unlocking greater potential for data elements. Against this background, the panel data firstly used from 18 companies that had incorporated data assets into their financial statements, employing the Difference-in-Differences (DID) method to examine the impact of data asset inclusion on profitability metrics of listed companies. The findings reveal that, under the current data management framework, while the inclusion of data assets positively influences the profitability of listed companies, the impact remains relatively limited. Despite the undeniable positive significance of data asset inclusion for enterprises, the process has yet to significantly boost overall corporate profitability. This limitation arises from the fact that the value assessment system for data assets is not yet fully reflected in the existing accounting standards, and the maturity of the inclusion process requires further improvement. To better harness the potential of data assets and enable companies to reap the benefits of their inclusion, future policies should focus on optimizing the management and valuation systems for data assets, enhancing the market-driven application of these assets, and ensuring deeper integration of relevant accounting standards and regulations. These measures would help unlock the value of data assets, activate corporate data resources, and provide robust support for profit growth.