<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> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 1,206,327 <SECURITIES> 348,081 <RECEIVABLES> 745,906 <ALLOWANCES> 7,233 <INVENTORY> 425,990 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,810,616 <PP&E> 422,851 <DEPRECIATION> 43,530 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,669,959 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 538,451 <BONDS> 517,500 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,977 <OTHER-SE> 2,526,675 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,669,959 <SALES> 805,933 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 828,351 <CGS> 431,136 <TOTAL-COSTS> 650,307 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,730 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 48,705 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 146,115 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 146,115 <EPS-PRIMARY> .29 <EPS-DILUTED> .28