WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  




<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         172,638                  66,875
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   82,842                  53,241
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (2,472)                 (1,223)
<INVENTORY>                                    254,182                 173,983
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               516,819                 304,699
<PP&E>                                          39,427                  25,967
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (4,949)                 (3,626)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 890,034                 525,373
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          316,704                 223,550
<BONDS>                                        237,356                  11,121
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                     327,093                 284,499
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   890,034                 525,373
<SALES>                                      1,545,231               1,302,031
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,545,231               1,302,031
<CGS>                                        1,348,368               1,156,459
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,508,735               1,280,703
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   297                   2,506
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,249                   4,398
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 29,584                  19,436
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (11,869)                 (7,202)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             17,597                   8,928
<DISCONTINUED>                                   (811)                   (894)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                 (4,987)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,786                   3,047
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.91                    0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.91                    0.28