<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE WATSCO,
INC. FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         7,264
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  185,054
<ALLOWANCES>                                   6,375
<INVENTORY>                                    222,239
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               430,610
<PP&E>                                         60,518
<DEPRECIATION>                                 30,006
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 589,208
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          101,326
<BONDS>                                        176,124
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       14,375
<OTHER-SE>                                     294,623
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   589,208
<SALES>                                        911,444
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               911,444
<CGS>                                          699,202
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  699,202
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               160,378
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               2,078
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             9,983
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                39,803
<INCOME-TAX>                                   14,813
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            24,990
<DISCONTINUED>                                 836
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   25,826
<EPS-BASIC>                                  0.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.87