Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is set to report its third-quarter earnings after the close of trading on Thursday. Thomson Reuters has consensus estimates for the leader of search of $6.53 in earnings per share and $16.57 billion in revenues. In the third quarter of the previous year it posted earnings of $5.37 per share and $14.89 in revenues. The fourth-quarter estimates call for $7.49 in earnings per share and revenue of $18.68 billion.

As a reminder on Google earnings, these are reported as ex-TAC to remove the traffic acquisition costs. The company reports a net revenue, but the analysts are using an ex-TAC revenue number. Some investors will pay close attention to Google’s international share of revenues, its headcount, its growing cash balance and even the company’s tax rate.

Google shares have been hit hard with the market in the past week, yet they haven’t really bounced much as of mid-Thursday.

Options traders appear to be braced for a move of up to $20 in either direction on Thursday.

Google’s stock chart is similar to other recently sold-off tech giants: full of resistance as the stock broke through key support levels over the past week or two. Google’s 200-day moving average is up at $574.97 and the 50-day moving average is even higher at $583.34.

Wall Street analysts have Google valued at 17 times 2015 earnings expectations.

At $521 in late morning trading ahead of earnings, the 52-week range is $502.80 to $604.83. Google’s stock has a consensus analyst price target of $678 or so now, indicating upside of nearly 30% if the analysts are correct.

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