<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF KEVCO, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 799 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 52,107 <ALLOWANCES> 740 <INVENTORY> 95,999 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 157,688 <PP&E> 56,101 <DEPRECIATION> 11,107 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 331,835 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 84,554 <BONDS> 105,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 69 <OTHER-SE> 42,818 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 331,835 <SALES> 897,450 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 904,847 <CGS> 781,339 <TOTAL-COSTS> 881,282 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (2,577) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 21,143 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,999 <INCOME-TAX> 3,132 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,867 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,867 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.27 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.27