WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The Putnam U.S. Core 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> 5,909,869
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6,530,252
<RECEIVABLES> 153,895
<ASSETS-OTHER> 794
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,684,941
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 427,541
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 8,215
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 435,756
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5,132,572
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 506,345
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 303,058
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 496,230
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 620,383
<NET-ASSETS> 6,249,185
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 22,420
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,994
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 38,092
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (12,678)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 869,713
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 176,036
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,033,071
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (486,718)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 185,522
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (29,399)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 47,164
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 2,998,399
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 125,913
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 28,516
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 40,643
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4,073,770
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.73
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.04)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.16
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.51)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.00
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>