<TABLE> <S> <C>


<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
       
<S>                             <C>                          <C>                           <C>                     

<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                        6-MOS                         3-MOS                 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997                  DEC-31-1997                   DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997                  JAN-01-1997                   JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997                  JUN-30-1997                   MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                          89,427                       77,083                        69,821
<SECURITIES>                                         0                            0                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   73,657                       58,536                        52,455
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                            0                             0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                            0                             0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                            0                             0
<PP&E>                                          15,170                       13,339                        12,195
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                            0                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 568,768                      530,224                       486,809
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                            0                             0
<BONDS>                                         58,417                       58,674                        68,905
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          143,993                      143,978                       143,943
<PREFERRED>                                          0                            0                             0
<COMMON>                                           291                          292                           290
<OTHER-SE>                                     222,788                      224,118                       220,804
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   568,768                      530,224                       486,809
<SALES>                                              0                            0                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               254,630                      154,527                        67,912
<CGS>                                                0                            0                             0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  197,921                      118,766                        51,717
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                39,738                       21,540                        10,339
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                            0                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,843                        3,942                         2,005
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,879                        7,630                         3,340
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,152                        3,052                         1,336
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                            0                             0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                            0                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                            0                             0
<CHANGES>                                            0                            0                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,727                        4,578                         2,004
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.16                         0.16                          0.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.15                         0.14                          0.06
                                                      
                                                                      

</TABLE>