<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE WATSCO,
INC. FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         8,450
<SECURITIES>                                   13,060
<RECEIVABLES>                                  163,384
<ALLOWANCES>                                   6,678
<INVENTORY>                                    223,532
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               412,455
<PP&E>                                         54,762
<DEPRECIATION>                                 23,887
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 573,185
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          96,479
<BONDS>                                        204,897
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          13,953
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     254,976
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   573,185
<SALES>                                        760,597
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               760,597
<CGS>                                          588,688
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  588,688
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               127,998
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               2,193
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             7,685
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                34,033
<INCOME-TAX>                                   12,592
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            21,441
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (418)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   21,023
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.74