In an impressive turn of events, APR, an emerging force within Korea's beauty tech arena, has surged past Amorepacific, claiming the coveted title of the nation's leading cosmetics company by market capitalization. This development marks a significant moment, as APR eclipses LG Household & Health Care, highlighting the challenges faced by the long-established "Big Two" in K-beauty. It signifies the ascent of a new player swiftly making its mark.
Information released by the Korea Exchange on the 6th reveals a significant spike in APR's shares, which climbed by ₩27,200 (14.52%), reaching ₩214,500 at 9:40 a.m. This surge briefly touched a historic high of ₩220,000, buoyed by unexpectedly strong Q2 financial results. With the current valuation, APR's market capitalization stands at an impressive ₩8.16 trillion, illustrating its growing financial clout.
Established in 2014, APR is the proud owner of well-known beauty brands such as Aprilskin and Forment, alongside MediCube, a rapidly expanding home beauty device brand. The company has witnessed robust earnings growth, propelled by significant exports to markets in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. In its bid to amplify global outreach, APR has recently appointed IVE’s Jang Won-young as the new ambassador of its MediCube Age-R brand, succeeding the renowned actress Kim Hee-sun.
APR transitioned into a publicly traded entity on February 27, 2023, making a striking debut with shares priced at ₩317,500, marking a 27% increase from its initial public offering (IPO) price of ₩250,000. At the time of its market entry, the company’s market capitalization was estimated at ₩2.41 trillion, setting the stage for its future growth trajectory.
On June 23 of the current year, APR's valuation in the market surpassed that of LG Household & Health Care for the very first time, securing it the second position within Korea’s cosmetics industry. As of the previous day, APR's market capitalization was noted at ₩7.13 trillion, significantly overshadowing LG H&H's ₩4.59 trillion, with a gap exceeding ₩2.5 trillion. With its most recent surge in stock value, APR has now also outstripped Amorepacific, claiming the pinnacle of success in the K-beauty industry merely 17 months since its public listing.