UPDATE 1-Moneysupermarket.com says Q3 trading "robust"
* Slowdown in credit products easing
* Sees year in line with market estimates
LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - British price comparison site Moneysupermarket.com (MONY.L) said trading in the third quarter was the strongest in the year to date, as the rate of decline in credit markets started to slow and sales of insurance products improved.
The company, whose advertising is fronted by Dragons' Den entrepreneur Peter Jones, said trading in the first few weeks of the final quarter was consistent with the trends seen in the third quarter, and it remained on track for the full year.
"Moneysupermarket.com has made steady progress through the year and we have enjoyed a robust third quarter," Chief Executive Peter Plumb said in a statement on Monday.
"Our focus on managing costs this year had paid off and we are starting to see benefits of our ongoing investment in technnology."
Internet revenue in the third-quarter was about 15 percent lower year-on-year, it said, but was about 15 percent up on the run rate in the first half. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margins were slightly ahead of the same quarter a year ago.
Analysts expected the firm to post full-year revenue of 139.1 million pounds ($232.8 million), EBITDA of 35.2 million pounds and pretax profit of 27.5 million pounds, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
(Reporting by Paul Sandle)
