Moneysupermarket.com posts drop in half-year profit

Earnings offset by investment in advertising and product development

Moneysupermarket.com is expecting a drop in H1 profit compared to last year

Price comparison web site Moneysupermarket.com is expecting a small drop in earnings for the first half of its financial year.

Investment in advertising and product development, coupled with low-performing travel markets, has offset the revenue growth that the firm has seen in money and insurance products.

Earnings before interest, tax, deprecation and amortisation were likely to be about £18m for the six months to 30 June. Last year, the firm recorded £18.6m in the same period, according to news agency Reuters.

The fall in profit was partly the result of higher spending on advertising and product development; the company enlisted the services of actor and comedian Omid Djalili in a recent advertising campaign. Moneysupermarket.com said the move has paid dividends, with gross profit margins up by an undisclosed amount and profitability improving throughout the period.

Revenue rose about five per cent to £71.5m, with UK internet revenue up six per cent.