<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE QUARTER
AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND THE QUARTER AND NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL
30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-30-1999             JUN-30-1999             APR-30-1998             APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             JUL-01-1998             FEB-01-1998             AUG-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999             MAR-31-1999             APR-30-1998             APR-30-1998
<CASH>                                      12,949,856              12,949,856              29,807,354              29,807,354
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                              298,731,279<F1>         298,731,279<F1>          74,118,482              74,118,482
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                296,095,729             296,095,729              33,410,481              33,410,481
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           611,714,277             611,714,277             140,010,124             140,010,124
<PP&E>                                     407,860,369             407,860,369             186,471,875             186,471,875
<DEPRECIATION>                            (33,542,653)            (33,542,653)            (18,705,670)            (18,705,670)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,044,924,280           1,044,924,280             323,304,830             323,304,830
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      190,299,336             190,299,336              45,616,860              45,616,860
<BONDS>                                    472,479,200             472,479,200             128,969,667             128,969,667
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                      1,701                   1,701                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       304,711                 304,711                 259,429                 259,429
<OTHER-SE>                                 380,200,389             380,200,389             147,544,874             147,544,874
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,044,924,280           1,044,924,280             323,304,830             323,304,830
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           769,369,253           1,973,790,336             489,525,621           1,505,357,475
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              754,832,261           1,946,416,811             485,598,248           1,491,810,489
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           9,462,401              19,112,665               2,357,496               6,092,477
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,987,967               6,782,101               1,835,072               8,520,565
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,515,000               2,577,000               1,322,500               3,892,500
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          2,472,967               4,205,101                 512,572               4,628,065
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,472,967               4,205,101                 512,572               4,628,065
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.08<F2>                0.14<F2>                0.02<F2>                0.18<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.07                    0.14                    0.02                    0.17
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES $110,615,000 RECEIVABLE UNDER PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.
<F2>REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
</FN>
        

</TABLE>