<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM EMC CORPORATION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 971,241 <SECURITIES> 361,607 <RECEIVABLES> 663,114 <ALLOWANCES> 7,519 <INVENTORY> 449,024 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,509,146 <PP&E> 338,583 <DEPRECIATION> 95,499 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,175,496 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 383,456 <BONDS> 517,500 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,479 <OTHER-SE> 2,190,042 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,175,496 <SALES> 2,009,360 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,064,468 <CGS> 1,111,808 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,604,233 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,748 <INCOME-PRETAX> 500,725 <INCOME-TAX> 128,436 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 372,289 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 372,289 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.44 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.44