K-beauty giant APR's shares up 100% this year ahead of U.S. Costco launch in September

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 18: Attendees are seen sampling products at the VIP Preview of the medicube Glowland Pop Up on March 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images)Robin L Marshall | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesShares of South Korean beauty company APR have surged nearly 100% this year as the K-beauty company rapidly expands its presence in the U.S. Its flagship Medicube brand is set to enter Costco stores across the U.S. in September, APR told CNBC. Medicube's Zero Pore Pad 2.0, a skincare product designed to cleanse pores, will be available across the retailer's U.S. stores. The upcoming launch marks APR's latest push into major U.S. retailers, following launches at Ulta Beauty in August last year, Target in April and Walmart in June. The 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 heavyweight Amorepacific and more than three times that of LG Household & Health Care. APR has been rapidly expanding in the U.S., which has become a key market for the company. North American sa...