<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1999 <CASH> 39,777 <SECURITIES> 48,381<F1> <RECEIVABLES> 612,420 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,716,163 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,818,943 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 473,851<F2> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 48,071 <OTHER-SE> 638,230 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,818,943 <SALES> 2,570,145 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,613,526 <CGS> 2,085,016 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,097,125<F3> <OTHER-EXPENSES> 353,715<F4> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 20,167 <INCOME-PRETAX> 127,642 <INCOME-TAX> 44,700 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 82,942 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 82,942 <EPS-BASIC> 1.77 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.73 <FN> <F1>Marketable securities are comprised of first mortgages and mortgage-backed securities which are held for long-term investment. The mortgage-backed securities serve as collateral for related collateralized mortgage obligations. <F2>Bonds are comprised of senior and senior subordinated notes and collateralized mortgage obligations. <F3>Total Costs include interest expense on the collateralized mortgage obligations, as the associated interest income generated from the mortgage-backed securities is included in Total Revenues. <F4>Other Expenses are comprised of selling, general and administrative expenses and a secondary marketing trading loss. </FN>