Rising expenses curtailed profit at Advance Auto Parts, but the latest quarterly financial report describes gains in key financial metrics.

Earnings per share -- profit per share of stock -- beat the guesses of 17 Wall Street analysts after the company repurchased shares. Earnings per share totaled 59 cents, versus an average of analysts' estimates of 58 cents. It was 57 cents a year ago.

Revenue grew 2.6 percent to nearly $1.19 billion following the opening of 30 new stores, bringing the total to 3,352 after accounting for one closing.

But comparable-store sales dropped 0.1 percent, and Advance posted a nearly 5 percent drop in profit.

Selling, general and administrative expenses climbed nearly 6 percent to $481.2 million. Although medical and advertising charges dropped, spending on strategic plans increased, the announcement said.

"Our third quarter financial results were below our expectations," company President and Chief Executive Officer Darren Jackson said in a statement.

He added that his strategies to improve the Roanoke company and second-largest U.S. auto parts retailer are working and his management team is committed to them.

The company earned $56.2 million during the three months that ended Oct. 4, versus $59 million during the same period a year ago.

During the first 40 weeks of this fiscal year, the company earned $213.6 million compared with $203.6 million a year ago.

Shares of Advance closed Wednesday at $25.50. Jackson and other Advance officials will talk this morning to analysts about the company's performance.