<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1997 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 0 14,639 <SECURITIES> 0 48,188 <RECEIVABLES> 0 145,942 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 216,469 <PP&E> 0 41,892 <DEPRECIATION> 0 24,669 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 0 278,570 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 46,054 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 6,645 <OTHER-SE> 0 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 0 278,570 <SALES> 169,930 463,006 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 0 0 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 149,930 407,457 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 34 549 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 51 151 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,096 57,846 <INCOME-TAX> 9,073 24,875 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,023 32,971 <EPS-PRIMARY> .18 .49 <EPS-DILUTED> .18 .49