<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE HANOVER COMPRESSOR COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 11,503 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 71,417 <ALLOWANCES> 1,212 <INVENTORY> 63,044 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 165,056 <PP&E> 470,726 <DEPRECIATION> 78,228 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 614,590 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 51,792 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 269,034 <OTHER-SE> 47,679 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 614,590 <SALES> 104,919 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 281,957 <CGS> 83,925 <TOTAL-COSTS> 220,605 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,716 <INCOME-PRETAX> 49,636 <INCOME-TAX> 19,259 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 30,377 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 30,377 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.07 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.01