Orbitz’s current Q4 revenue-growth outlook of 9%-11% will be a focus of investors BloombergCan Orbitz’s earnings stop the stock from going down?Orbitz Worldwide is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Thursday, before the market opens. Investors will be waiting to see if online travel service can exceed profit forecasts for a change, while extending its streak of sales beats. They will also be keenly focused on Orbitz’s outlook for the fourth quarter. The stock OWW, -1.40% has had a strong year, outperforming the broader stock market by a wide margin. But a sharp selloff in Priceline Group’s stockPCLN, -0.21% on Tuesday, following a disappointing outlook for the current quarter, was enough to increase anxiety among some investors. Here are some things to watch for in Orbitz’s results: Earnings: Orbitz is expected to report earnings of 14 cents a share, according to the average estimate of analysts surveyed by FactSet, up from 11 cents a share in the same period a year ago. The company has missed earnings expectations for the past two quarters, and for four of the past five. Revenue: Orbitz’s sales are forecast to rise to $253 million from last year’s $220.9 million. The company has exceeded revenue forecasts the past seven quarters. When the company reported second-quarter results on Aug. 7, it projected full-year revenue to grow 9% to 11% on the year. Based on 2013 revenue of $847 million, that implies 2014 revenue of between $923.2 million and $940.2 million. Share price: Orbitz’s stock has fallen 6.4% since the company reported second-quarter results through Wednesday, but is still up 18% this year, compared with a 5.8% year-to-date decline in Priceline’s stock and a 9.5% gain in the S&P 500. The average rating on the stock of analysts polled by FactSet is overweight. The average price target is $9.58, or 13% above current levels. On Tuesday, Orbitz’s stock lost 0.5%, on the heels of an 8.4% tumble in Priceline’s shares after the rival’s downbeat outlook. Other issues: Perhaps what will be most important to investors is whether Orbitz will maintain its full-year revenue growth outlook of 9% to 11%, after rival Priceline provided fourth-quarter profit and sales estimates that were well below expectations, citing a mixed macro-economic backdrop, particularly in Europe. Priceline’s shocker came while analysts were still mostly upbeat on global travel trends. Among some other key metrics investors will be watching, outside of earnings and sales, is gross bookings. Analyst Edward Woo of Ascendiant Capital Markets is expecting bookings of $3 billion, or about 8% more than last year’s total. Investors will also be waiting to see if the company provides an estimate of the impact, if any, on earnings and revenue from its dispute with American Airlines. The air carrier said on Aug. 26 that it withdrew its fares from Orbitz’s service, after talks failed to produce a deal, only to reinstate them just three days later. Tomi Kilgore