DULUTH, Ga. -

Asbury Automotive Group increased its used retail sales by 4 percent and pushed used-vehicle revenue up 5 percent during a period that saw that company achieve its best-ever quarterly earnings per share from continuing operations.

Releasing its third-quarter results this morning, Asbury sold 14,585 used retail units during the period, compared to 14,053 used sales in the same quarter of 2011.

The company reported total used-vehicle revenue of $335.6 million, compared to $318.5 million in the third quarter of last year. Breaking that down, Asbury’s used retail revenue was at $281.8 million (up 5 percent), and its used wholesale revenue was at $53.8 million (up 7 percent).

Overall, net income came in at $20.7 million, up from $12.3 million from the year-ago period.  Total revenues came in at $1.2 billion, a 14-percent gain.

The record EPS from continuing operations mark was $0.72 per diluted share, a 71-percent increase over the year-ago period.

“Asbury is pleased to announce all-time record quarterly results from continuing operations,” said Craig Monaghan, Asbury’s president and chief executive officer.

“Operational excellence combined with disciplined spending produced these record results.  With our core infrastructure in place, we look forward to building a stronger Company through both top-line and bottom-line growth,” he continued.

Asbury’s executive vice president and chief operating officer Michael Kearney, added, “Our stores continue to generate phenomenal results.  Record operating profits were driven by a balanced contribution from all business areas recording higher revenues and gross profits.

“These results reflect the impressive benefits from our focus on best processes enabled by technology and executed by motivated employees,” he said.