<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Income found on pages 3 and 4 of the Company's Form 10-Q for the year-to-date, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 40,362 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 653,157 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 693,519 <PP&E> 12,892 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 765,077 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 99,777 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 374 <OTHER-SE> 272,848 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 765,077 <SALES> 231,152 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 231,152 <CGS> 187,212 <TOTAL-COSTS> 187,212 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,169 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,794 <INCOME-TAX> 6,960 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,834 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,834 <EPS-PRIMARY> .29 <EPS-DILUTED> .28