<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (Replace this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000895419
<NAME>                        CREE, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLARS

                                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    12-MOS            12-MOS         12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>           JUN-25-2000       JUN-27-1999    JUN-28-1998
<PERIOD-START>              JUN-28-1999       JUN-29-1998    JUL-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                JUN-25-2000       JUN-27-1999    JUN-28-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                       1                 1              1
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<SECURITIES>                    158,303             6,145            657
<RECEIVABLES>                    16,549            16,383         10,941
<ALLOWANCES>                        250               175            151
<INVENTORY>                       9,320             3,986          2,543
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                289,019            70,171         35,695
<PP&E>                          159,751            84,800         47,524
<DEPRECIATION>                   22,633            13,670         10,452
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  486,202           145,933         74,380
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>            23,062            10,282          7,429
<BONDS>                               0                 0              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                 0                 0              0
<PREFERRED>                           0                 0              0
<COMMON>                        414,049           112,378         50,718
<OTHER-SE>                       49,091            18,623          5,188
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    486,202           145,933         74,380
<SALES>                         108,562            62,401         43,962
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                108,562            62,401         43,962
<CGS>                            52,362            34,163         29,223
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    70,507            45,078         35,380
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                  1,305             1,180            502
<LOSS-PROVISION>                      0                 0              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              (9,400)           (1,058)          (754)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  46,806            17,340          8,834
<INCOME-TAX>                     16,286             4,892          2,591
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              30,520            12,448          6,243
<DISCONTINUED>                        0                 0              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                       0                 0              0
<CHANGES>                             0                 0              0
<NET-INCOME>                     30,520            12,448          6,243
<EPS-BASIC>                        0.93              0.43           0.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                      0.87              0.41           0.22