<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000793024
<NAME> KENT ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                <C>                <C>                <C>               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS              6-MOS              9-MOS              YEAR              YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               MAR-29-1997        MAR-29-1997        MAR-29-1997        MAR-29-1997       MAR-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    JUN-29-1996        SEP-28-1996        DEC-28-1996        MAR-29-1997       MAR-30-1996
<CASH>                               66,877             48,195             39,519             25,050             73,431
<SECURITIES>                         26,827             26,877             27,002                  0             38,747
<RECEIVABLES>                        71,574             77,941             82,221             90,091             61,258
<ALLOWANCES>                          1,111              1,210              1,356              1,256              1,048
<INVENTORY>                          71,870             78,895             81,834             94,494             65,591
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    240,649            235,360            235,054            212,402            242,530
<PP&E>                               80,189             94,266            105,731            116,405             65,241
<DEPRECIATION>                       19,937             21,600             23,320             25,515             18,358
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      316,503            327,070            339,319            325,594            305,174
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                69,492             74,057             78,921             61,518             69,772
<BONDS>                                   0                  0                  0                  0                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0                  0                  0                  0                  0
<PREFERRED>                               0                  0                  0                  0                  0
<COMMON>                             39,820             39,116             39,457             40,371             38,357
<OTHER-SE>                          202,227            209,034            215,902            221,996            192,611
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        316,503            327,070            339,319            325,594            305,174
<SALES>                             125,144            249,178            375,585            516,757            425,810
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    125,144            249,178            375,585            516,757            425,810
<CGS>                                93,238            189,254            286,821            396,054            313,643
<TOTAL-COSTS>                        93,238            189,254            286,821            396,054            313,643
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          0                  0                  0                  0                  0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         38                144                330                409                249
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      304                666              1,080              1,192                898
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      15,556             26,549             37,824             45,100             49,095
<INCOME-TAX>                          6,125             10,266             14,604             17,479             19,303
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                   9,431             16,283             23,220             27,621             29,792
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                  0                  0                  0                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                  0                  0                  0                  0
<CHANGES>                                 0                  0                  0                  0                  0
<NET-INCOME>                          9,431             16,283             23,220             27,621             29,792
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          0.37               0.64               0.92               1.08               1.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.34               0.59               0.85               1.00               1.21
        

</TABLE>