WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Growth Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,147,864
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 4,455,355
<RECEIVABLES> 30,248
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1,628
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,487,231
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 26,746
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 6,958
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 33,704
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2,949,767
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 306,938
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 246,005
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 196,269
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
(ACCUMULATED-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,307,491
<NET-ASSETS> 4,453,527
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 10,656
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,591
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 30,326
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (18,079)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 336,405
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 695,380
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,013,706
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 67,935
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (7,002)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1,890,914
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (140,090)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 22,854
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 32,734
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,273,383
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.42
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.07)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.16
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.51
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.00
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
