<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE WATSCO, INC. FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 6,738 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 159,274 <ALLOWANCES> 5,728 <INVENTORY> 201,138 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 382,884 <PP&E> 45,055 <DEPRECIATION> 19,344 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 520,961 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 100,545 <BONDS> 173,277 <COMMON> 8,942 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 234,774 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 520,961 <SALES> 443,569 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 443,569 <CGS> 343,194 <TOTAL-COSTS> 343,194 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 77,868 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,252 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,436 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,819 <INCOME-TAX> 6,223 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,596 <DISCONTINUED> (689) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,907 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.56 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.53