<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000724571 <NAME> Fred's, Inc. <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-29-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-29-1999 <PERIOD-END> JAN-29-2000 <CASH> 3,036,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 11,363,000 <ALLOWANCES> (452,000) <INVENTORY> 141,612,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 160,426,000 <PP&E> 154,165,000 <DEPRECIATION> (78,871,000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 240,222,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 80,719,000 <BONDS> 13,590,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 67,326,000 <OTHER-SE> 78,587,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 240,222,000 <SALES> 665,777,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 665,777,000 <CGS> 478,138,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 478,138,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 168,888,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> (192,000) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,504,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,439,000 <INCOME-TAX> 5,737,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,702,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,702,000 <EPS-BASIC> 0.90 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.89