<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTERS ENDED JULY 31, 1997 AND OCTOBER
31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
       
<S>                                       <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998             APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1997             MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1997             OCT-31-1997
<CASH>                                      41,265,879              45,764,652
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               54,351,843              39,926,328
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                 53,487,027              64,452,354
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           152,739,025             152,683,589
<PP&E>                                     126,080,782             133,577,721
<DEPRECIATION>                             (12,382,410)            (14,171,962)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             286,675,004             292,409,258
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       60,195,917              53,249,906
<BONDS>                                     78,961,867              88,964,467
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       258,097                 259,144
<OTHER-SE>                                 141,783,746             144,460,364
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               286,675,004             292,409,258
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           462,149,021           1,007,249,077
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              456,461,558             996,566,388
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,498,746               3,067,523
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              4,609,565               8,477,037
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,600,000               3,070,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          3,009,565               5,407,037
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,009,565               5,407,037
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.12<F1><F2>            0.21<F1><F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.11<F2>                0.20<F2>
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE.
<F2>RESTATED TO REFLECT THE COMPANY'S ADOPTION OF SFAS 128, "EARNINGS PER SHARE".
</FN>
        

</TABLE>