<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000927653 <NAME> McKESSON HBOC, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 179,000 <SECURITIES> 28,100 <RECEIVABLES> 3,003,000 <ALLOWANCES> 259,400 <INVENTORY> 3,679,800 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 6,797,500 <PP&E> 1,445,100 <DEPRECIATION> 715,200 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 9,497,400 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 5,105,100 <BONDS> 929,800 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 195,700 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,800 <OTHER-SE> 3,009,100 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 9,497,400 <SALES> 17,747,500 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 17,747,500 <CGS> 16,446,800 <TOTAL-COSTS> 17,532,200 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 61,300 <INCOME-PRETAX> 215,300 <INCOME-TAX> 82,800 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 129,400 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 129,400 <EPS-BASIC> 0.46 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.46