<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Drug Guild Distributors, Inc. and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Jul-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> Aug-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> Apr-30-1996 <CASH> 8,880 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 71,359,701 <ALLOWANCES> (1,485,776) <INVENTORY> 27,664,246 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 99,647,298 <PP&E> 14,133,906 <DEPRECIATION> 10,737,145 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 108,015,685 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 91,059,526 <BONDS> 996,093 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 2,397,541 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 10,095,547 <OTHER-SE> 3,466,978 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 108,015,685 <SALES> 378,628,610 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 378,628,610 <CGS> 353,367,602 <TOTAL-COSTS> 353,367,602 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 16,738,780 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,945,776 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,131,206 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,427,978) <INCOME-TAX> (825,500) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,602,478) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,746,298) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.17) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.17)