[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000355747
[NAME] SMITH BARNEY INVESTMENT FUNDS INC.
[SERIES]
   [NUMBER] 3
   [NAME] GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND CLASS A
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1996
[PERIOD-END]                               DEC-31-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      110,535,754
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     115,692,133
[RECEIVABLES]                                1,114,984
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                       0
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                               966
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             166,808,083
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                       827,576
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                      478,810
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                          1,306,386
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                   107,216,010
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                        5,231,112
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                        4,028,314
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                            0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                         915,530
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                      4,044,838
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                     5,156,379
[NET-ASSETS]                               115,501,697
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                            1,400,699
[INTEREST-INCOME]                              534,480
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                               2,145,468
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                        210,289 
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                    20,150,920
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                  (6,581,661)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                       13,358,970
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                      597,178
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                     9,867,398
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                        919,099
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                    510,041
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                            789,890
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      25,035,290
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                            0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                            564
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                     220,678
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                        1,040,355
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                              1,040,355
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                        65,081,460
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            14.31
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  00.01
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          01.85
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                        02.37
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              13.80
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  01.78
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>