<ARTICLE>                                          5
<CIK>                                              0000714603
<NAME>                                             DST Systems, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                   1000
                                                    
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                       Mar-31-1998
<CASH>                                                       30,846
<SECURITIES>                                              1,003,450
<RECEIVABLES>                                               184,819
<ALLOWANCES>                                                      0
<INVENTORY>                                                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            254,627
<PP&E>                                                      589,237
<DEPRECIATION>                                              358,195
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            1,545,434
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       123,427
<BONDS>                                                           0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                             0
<PREFERRED>                                                       0
<COMMON>                                                        500
<OTHER-SE>                                                  959,065
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                              1,545,434
<SALES>                                                           0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                            187,423
<CGS>                                                             0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                               156,201
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                  0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            2,301
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                              29,318
<INCOME-TAX>                                                 10,792
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                          18,573
<DISCONTINUED>                                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                   0
<CHANGES>                                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                                 18,573
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                     0.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                     0