(Adds shares, analyst reaction)
LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Price comparison websiteMoneysupermarket.com Group said people switching energysuppliers to avoid big rises in bills gave it a strong start tothe fourth quarter and would help it beat earnings expectationsfor the year.
The British company, whose website helps customers searchfor deals on insurance, utilities and other financial products,said revenue in the first weeks of October rose 25 percent froma year ago, while revenue for the proceeding third quartergained 5 percent.
Shares rose 15 percent to a 13-week high of 179 pence,topping the mid-cap leaderboard, after it said earningswould beat average market forecasts.
"Revenues from energy switching in particular have been verystrong as consumers sought better deals in the face of rapidlyrising domestic fuel bills announced by the majority of themajor providers in the second half of October," it said onWednesday.
Energy suppliers including market leader Centrica and SSEannounced big rises in energy charges last month, with Centricaraising prices by an average 9.2 percent.
Moneysupermarket.com said it expected full-year coreearnings to be a mid-single digit percentage ahead of currentconsensus expectations, which stand at 78.4 million pounds($125.8 million) according to the company.
Westhouse Securities analysts Roddy Davidson said he wouldupgrade his forecasts by 5-10 percent.
"We remain bulls of the group's underlying fundamentals,which include a clear lead in the UK price comparison market,its ability to produce very tangible savings for consumers ...strong cash generation, and attractive earnings and dividendgrowth," he said.
The group also said it had appointed Matthew Price,currently finance director at Whitbread's Costa Coffee,as its new finance director. He will start in the first quarterof 2014. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by David Cowell and LouiseHeavens)