<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001005967 <NAME> HMT TECHNOLOGY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 5,156 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 48,718 <ALLOWANCES> 625 <INVENTORY> 14,624 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 73,639 <PP&E> 176,935 <DEPRECIATION> 50,180 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 206,551 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 29,291 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 61,936 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 90,318 <OTHER-SE> (25,926) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 206,551 <SALES> 62,080 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 62,080 <CGS> 35,363 <TOTAL-COSTS> 35,363 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,009 <LOSS-PROVISION> 15,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,365 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,343 <INCOME-TAX> 3,842 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,605 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.38 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.38