<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from EMC Corporation financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 593,407 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 564,412 <ALLOWANCES> 6,866 <INVENTORY> 303,290 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,521,094 <PP&E> 256,210 <DEPRECIATION> 63,204 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,088,551 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 390,168 <BONDS> 229,498 <COMMON> 2,335 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,397,363 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,088,551 <SALES> 1,578,698 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,617,258 <CGS> 904,543 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,279,834 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,101 <INCOME-PRETAX> 352,315 <INCOME-TAX> 90,369 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 261,946 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 261,946 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.07 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.07