<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> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 700,526 <SECURITIES> 515,069 <RECEIVABLES> 644,269 <ALLOWANCES> 7,517 <INVENTORY> 442,328 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,363,252 <PP&E> 294,459 <DEPRECIATION> 26,241 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,948,809 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 456,363 <BONDS> 517,500 <COMMON> 2,461 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,889,673 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,948,809 <SALES> 600,900 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 618,437 <CGS> 335,985 <TOTAL-COSTS> 481,700 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,402 <INCOME-PRETAX> 149,116 <INCOME-TAX> 38,248 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 110,868 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 110,868 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.44 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.44