<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS FOUND ON PAGES F-3 AND F-4 OF OUR FORM 10-K FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 30, 1999. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <CASH> 21,679 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 3,883 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 105,754<F1> <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F2> <PP&E> 131,172 <DEPRECIATION> 48,515 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,485,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0<F2> <BONDS> 175,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 270,902 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 253 <OTHER-SE> 206,437<F3> <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,485,000 <SALES> 138,212<F4> <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,417,167 <CGS> 121,941<F5> <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,157,999 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 69,145<F6> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 74,769 <INCOME-PRETAX> 115,254 <INCOME-TAX> 55,899 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 59,355 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 59,355 <EPS-BASIC> 2.04 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.74 <FN> <F1>RENTAL MERCHANDISE, HELD FOR RENT. <F2>BALANCE SHEET IS UNCLASSIFIED. <F3>ADDITIONAL PAID IN CAPITAL, RETAINED EARNING AND TREASURY STOCK. <F4>STORE AND FRANCHISE MERCHANDISE SALES. <F5>STORE AND FRANCHISE COST OF MERCHANDISE SOLD. <F6>GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE AND AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLES. </FN>