What Happened?
On September 24, 2025, Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc announced a new 5.03% stake acquisition in APR for ‘simple investment’ purposes.
Why Did Morgan Stanley Invest in APR? (Positive Factors)
- Strong Fundamentals: APR shows robust growth in cosmetics (Medicube, Aprilskin, Forment) and home beauty devices (Medicube Age-R). As of the first half of 2025, it recorded sales of KRW 593.8 billion and operating profit of KRW 139.1 billion, maintaining a stable debt ratio (approximately 59.6%) and healthy operating cash flow.
- Global Growth Potential: Internalization of technology and patent acquisition in the home beauty device business, and global market expansion strategy in the cosmetics business enhance APR’s future growth potential.
- Shareholder Return Policy: Consistent share buybacks/cancellations and dividend policies are attractive to institutional investors.
What to Consider When Investing? (Potential Risks)
- Stock Volatility: Short-term stock price volatility may increase depending on institutional investors’ trading activities.
- External Environmental Changes: External factors like fluctuations in exchange rates, interest rates, raw material prices, and intensifying competition can affect APR’s performance.
What Action Should Investors Take?
Morgan Stanley’s investment can be interpreted as a positive signal for APR’s growth. However, before making investment decisions, investors should consider the global economic situation, beauty industry trends, and APR’s mid-to-long-term business strategies. A long-term investment strategy focusing on the company’s fundamentals and growth potential is necessary, rather than focusing on short-term stock price movements.