<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT OCTOBER 31, 1996 AND THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000067215 <NAME> DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 3,976,564 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 14,185,553 <ALLOWANCES> 702,945 <INVENTORY> 9,264,483 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 29,491,959 <PP&E> 52,118,310 <DEPRECIATION> 32,056,047 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 55,473,905 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,342,675 <BONDS> 11,456,664 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,891,594 <OTHER-SE> 16,780,453 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 55,473,905 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 40,275,232 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 32,418,734 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,488,144 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 256,371 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,888,362 <INCOME-TAX> 1,226,743 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,661,619 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,661,619 <EPS-PRIMARY> .19 <EPS-DILUTED> .19