<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000015615 <NAME> MASTEC, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> US <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.00 <CASH> 14,283 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 426,257 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 16,104 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 493,999 <PP&E> 145,632 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 894,364 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 345,274 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,733 <OTHER-SE> 223,416 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 894,364 <SALES> 720,807 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 720,807 <CGS> 557,707 <TOTAL-COSTS> 688,107 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (7,691) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,916 <INCOME-PRETAX> 20,475 <INCOME-TAX> 9,769 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,706 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,706 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.39 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.38