<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 25,332 94,435 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 124,971 93,488 <ALLOWANCES> (594) (887) <INVENTORY> 359,558 324,330 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 534,098 531,779 <PP&E> 62,067 44,028 <DEPRECIATION> (9,868) (6,440) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,146,979 975,662 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 455,559 414,588 <BONDS> 303,394 238,550 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 2 2 <OTHER-SE> 352,027 300,555 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,146,979 975,662 <SALES> 2,499,262 2,087,148 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,507,353 2,089,763 <CGS> 2,175,418 1,830,086 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,448,101 2,085,152 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,627 297 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 23,381 15,085 <INCOME-PRETAX> 31,941 (15,513) <INCOME-TAX> 13,096 5,511 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 18,719 (10,140) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,235) 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 17,484 (10,140) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.86 (0.56) <EPS-DILUTED> 0.86 (0.54)