Shares of search dynamo Google (GOOGL 0.69%) are riding high as we head further into 2014, and for good reason.

As virtually everyone should know by now, Google has all but cemented its Android operating system as what will likely be the dominant platform of the mobile generation. In fact, its stock price has climbed steadily over the last several years, much as its market share of smartphones operating systems (and increasingly tablets as well) has soared over the last several years.

Source: Google.

This Thursday, Google will report its Q4 2013 earnings, and tech investors everywhere should be paying close attention.

Glorious Google
Google has been uncanny with its earnings reports over the last two or so year, and investors should expect much of the same this quarter as well.

Why's that?

Because many of the same drivers that have so heavily influenced past quarters' earnings are still fully at work. For instance, two of Google's most essential metrics have been heading in divergent directions, also for good reason. 

In the video below, tech and telecom analyst Andrew Tonner breaks down the key numbers and story lines that investors should watch for when Google reports its upcoming earnings on Thursday.