<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000040656 <NAME> GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 <CASH> 36,382 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 58,819 <ALLOWANCES> 1,063 <INVENTORY> 23,524 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 132,726 <PP&E> 156,714 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,799,387 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 88,601 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 306 <OTHER-SE> 676,872 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,799,387 <SALES> 414,269 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 414,269 <CGS> 254,991 <TOTAL-COSTS> 316,493 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 272 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,461 <INCOME-PRETAX> 88,043 <INCOME-TAX> 30,727 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 57,316 <DISCONTINUED> 66,466 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 123,782 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.86 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.68