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> SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,314,422
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 4,375,725
<RECEIVABLES> 13,505
<ASSETS-OTHER> 79
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,389,309
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 27,615
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 17,607
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 45,222
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,005,170
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 310,598
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 306,938
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 16,063
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 293,677
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
(ACCUMULATED-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,061,303
<NET-ASSETS> 4,344,087
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4,067
<INTEREST-INCOME> 657
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 20,787
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (16,063)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 97,408
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (246,188)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (164,843)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 17,441
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (13,781)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (109,440)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 196,269
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 15,772
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 22,447
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4,452,932
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.51
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.05)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.47)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.99
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .50
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>