LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 18: Attendees are seen sampling products during a VIP preview of the MediCube Growland Pop-up on March 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L. Marshall/Getty Images)
Robin L. Marshall | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
Shares of South Korean beauty company APR have risen nearly 100% this year as it rapidly expands its presence in the United States.
APR told CNBC that the company’s flagship brand, Medicube, will be available at Costco stores nationwide in September. Medicube’s Zero Pore Pad 2.0, a skin care product designed to cleanse pores, will be available in retail stores across the United States.
The launch marks APR’s latest foray into major U.S. retailers, following launches at Ulta Beauty last August, Target in April, and Walmart in June.
The South Korean beauty company, which listed on South Korea’s benchmark Kospi in 2024, now has a market capitalization of about 17.3 trillion won ($12.5 billion), nearly twice that of longtime beauty giant Amorepacific and more than three times that of LG Household & Healthcare.
APR is rapidly expanding in the US, making it an important market for the company. North American sales in the second quarter reached 376.3 billion won ($273 million), accounting for 49% of total sales.
According to APR, Medicube was the most searched term across all categories on Amazon during the June 23-26 Prime Day event.
Earlier this month, APR announced that sales for the second quarter increased by 134.2% year-on-year to 767.5 billion won, and operating profit increased by 134.5% to 190.6 billion won. Overseas sales accounted for 91.8% of total sales.
APR rides on widespread K-beauty boom in the US South Korea’s cosmetics exports are estimated to reach a record $7 billion in the first half of 2026, up 27.3% year-on-year, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The largest export destination was the United States, accounting for $1.45 billion, or 20.7% of total exports.
The company raised its full-year sales forecast from approximately 2.1 trillion won to 3 trillion won, citing growth in the U.S. market and the possibility of further global expansion. APR Vice President Shin Jae-ha said at the company’s second-quarter earnings conference that this year’s U.S. sales are expected to reach approximately 1.3 trillion won.
APR stock has risen more than 360% in the last year.
