<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
ACCOMPANYING  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                           0000895419
<NAME>                                           Cree, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000
<CURRENCY>                                    U.S. DOLLARS

                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JUN-24-2001
<PERIOD-START>                                 JUN-26-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-24-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                              34,123
<SECURITIES>                                       222,309
<RECEIVABLES>                                       26,068
<ALLOWANCES>                                           250
<INVENTORY>                                         10,564
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   296,694
<PP&E>                                             184,378
<DEPRECIATION>                                      26,763
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     502,963
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               26,276
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                           415,841
<OTHER-SE>                                          60,446
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       476,287
<SALES>                                             37,642
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    37,642
<CGS>                                               17,076
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       23,134
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 (4,783)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     19,203
<INCOME-TAX>                                         6,548
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 12,655
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        12,655
<EPS-BASIC>                                           0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.36