<TABLE> <S> <C>

 <ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
CONTAINED IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
OCTOBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM
10-K.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1998             OCT-31-1997             OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1997             NOV-01-1996             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1998             OCT-31-1997             OCT-31-1996
<CASH>                                          75,478                 111,331                       0
<SECURITIES>                                    99,822                  38,672                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   89,203                  95,366                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                       571                     669                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     40,138                  39,336                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               319,983                 303,022                       0
<PP&E>                                          65,361                  33,345                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,441                   8,741                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 368,992                 327,985                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           88,692                  96,907                       0
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       133,013                 135,302                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     146,608                  95,018                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   368,992                 327,985                       0
<SALES>                                        714,651                 694,675                 401,774
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               714,651                 694,675                 401,774
<CGS>                                          595,279                 582,515                 329,644
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  595,279                 582,515                 329,644
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  73                     225                     309
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 75,711                  68,865                  39,891
<INCOME-TAX>                                    24,228                  23,418                  14,760
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    51,483                  45,447                  25,131
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.19                    1.17                    0.69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.10                    1.04                    0.60
        

</TABLE>