<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1997 <CASH> 52,926 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 34,646 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 806,975 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 894,547 <PP&E> 14,861 <DEPRECIATION> (6,263) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,343,284 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 221,020 <BONDS> 661,695 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,316 <OTHER-SE> 433,683 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,343,284 <SALES> 1,130,989 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,303,082 <CGS> 907,691 <TOTAL-COSTS> 958,324 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 234,052 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,979 <INCOME-PRETAX> 85,727 <INCOME-TAX> 35,122 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 50,605 <DISCONTINUED> 33,826 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 84,431 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.23