<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001097292
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> CLASS D
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 207638068
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 163029464
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 214689
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 163244153
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 213087
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 213087
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 223629854
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2501316
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2500
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (433081)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (15557103)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (44608604)
<NET-ASSETS> 17473675
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 88472
<EXPENSES-NET> (521553)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (433081)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (15557103)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (44608604)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (60598788)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2643867
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (145051)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 162931066
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 521553
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 18021700
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.01)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (3.00)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 6.99
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.49
</TABLE>
