<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VALHI, INC.'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIODS NOTED BELOW AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. SUCH SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF MEDITE CORPORATION AS DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 142,468 144,669 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 249,645 258,206 <ALLOWANCES> 5,199 4,698 <INVENTORY> 467,842 373,642 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 872,378 788,665 <PP&E> 1,195,631 1,210,003 <DEPRECIATION> 345,163 359,429 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,495,730 2,417,988 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 598,036 561,657 <BONDS> 1,105,284 1,078,667 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 1,247 1,248 <OTHER-SE> 265,390 268,359 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,495,730 2,417,988 <SALES> 416,325 838,957 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 416,325 838,957 <CGS> 307,669 628,330 <TOTAL-COSTS> 307,669 628,330 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 160 (355) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 28,321 55,168 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,883 31,723 <INCOME-TAX> 6,366 11,307 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,196 15,796 <DISCONTINUED> (14,884) (12,734) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (5,688) 3,062 <EPS-PRIMARY> (.05) .03 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0