<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000040656 <NAME> GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 42,778 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 44,266 <ALLOWANCES> 863 <INVENTORY> 30,166 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 135,912 <PP&E> 192,068 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,959,606 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 63,985 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,371 <OTHER-SE> 1,188,585 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,959,606 <SALES> 282,554 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 282,554 <CGS> 174,662 <TOTAL-COSTS> 211,514 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 65 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,722 <INCOME-PRETAX> 63,253 <INCOME-TAX> 25,744 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 37,509 <DISCONTINUED> (22,310) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,199 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.16 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.08