<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 06/30/99
000 C000000 0000356683
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 PRUDENTIAL EQUITY FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-3326
001 C000000 9733677530
002 A000000 GATEWAY CENTER THREE, 100 MULBERRY ST
002 B000000 NEWARK
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 07102
002 D020000 4077
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-22808
008 D010001 NEWARK
008 D020001 NJ
008 D030001 07101
008 A000002 THE PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION
008 B000002 S
008 C000002 801-31104
008 D010002 NEW YORK
008 D020002 NY
008 D030002 10292
010 A000001 PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS FUND MGMT. INC
010 B000001 801-22808
010 C010001 NEWARK
010 C020001 NJ
010 C030001 07101
011 A000001 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
<PAGE> PAGE 2
011 B000001 8-27154
011 C010001 NEW YORK
011 C020001 NY
011 C030001 10292
012 A000001 PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
012 B000001 84-5681019
012 C010001 NEW BRUNSWICK
012 C020001 NJ
012 C030001 08906
013 A000001 PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
013 B010001 NEW YORK
013 B020001 NY
013 B030001 10036
014 A000001 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
014 B000001 8-27154
014 A000002 PRUCO SECURITIES CORPORATION
014 B000002 8-16402
014 A000003 PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC
014 B000003 8-36540
015 A000001 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 NORTH QUINCY
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02171
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 SYNDEY
015 D010002 AUSTRALIA
015 E040002 X
015 A000003 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000003 S
015 C010003 HONG KONG
015 D010003 HONG KONG
015 E040003 X
015 A000004 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000004 S
015 C010004 JAKARTA
015 D010004 INDONESIA
015 E040004 X
015 A000005 DELETE
015 A000006 THE HONG KONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. LTD.
015 B000006 S
015 C010006 SEOUL
015 D010006 KOREA
015 E040006 X
015 A000007 CEDEL
015 B000007 S
015 C010007 TRANSNATIONAL
015 D010007 TRANSNATIONAL
015 E040007 X
<PAGE> PAGE 3
015 A000008 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, MALAYIA BERHAD
015 B000008 S
015 C010008 KALA LUMPUR
015 D010008 MALAYSIA
015 E040008 X
015 A000009 ANZ BANKING GROUP (NEW ZEALAND) LIMITED
015 B000009 S
015 C010009 WELLINGTON
015 D010009 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040009 X
015 A000010 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000010 S
015 C010010 MANILLA
015 D010010 PHILIPPINES
015 E040010 X
015 A000011 THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SINGAPORE LTD.
015 B000011 S
015 C010011 SINGAPORE
015 D010011 SINGAPORE
015 E040011 X
015 A000012 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000012 S
015 C010012 BANGKOK
015 D010012 THAILAND
015 E040012 X
015 A000013 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST CO.,LONDON BRANCH
015 B000013 S
015 C010013 LONDON
015 D010013 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040013 X
015 A000014 THE EUROCLEAR SYSTEM
015 B000014 S
015 C010014 -
015 D010014 TRANSNATIONAL
015 E040014 X
015 A000015 DEUTSCHE BANK A.G.
015 B000015 S
015 C010015 BOMBAY
015 D010015 INDIA
015 E040015 X
015 A000016 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000016 S
015 C010016 BUENOS AIRES
015 D010016 ARGENTINA
015 E040016 X
015 A000017 ERSTE BANK OESTERREICHISEHEN SPARKASSEN AG
015 B000017 S
015 C010017 VIENNA
015 D010017 AUSTRIA
015 E040017 X
015 A000018 GENERALE DE BANK
<PAGE> PAGE 4
015 B000018 S
015 C010018 BRUSSELS
015 D010018 BELGIUM
015 E040018 X
015 A000019 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000019 S
015 C010019 SAO PAULO
015 D010019 BRAZIL
015 E040019 X
015 A000020 CANADA TRUSTCO MORTGAGE COMPANY
015 B000020 S
015 C010020 TORONTO
015 D010020 CANADA
015 E040020 X
015 A000021 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000021 S
015 C010021 SANTIAGO
015 D010021 CHILE
015 E040021 X
015 A000022 CITITRUST COLUMBIA S.A. SOCIEDAD FIDUCIARIA
015 B000022 S
015 C010022 BOGOTA
015 D010022 COLUMBIA
015 E040022 X
015 A000023 CESKOSLOVENSKA OBCHODNI BANKA A.S.
015 B000023 S
015 C010023 PRAGUE
015 D010023 CZECH REPUBLIC
015 E040023 X
015 A000024 DEN DANSKE BANK
015 B000024 S
015 C010024 COPENHAGEN
015 D010024 DENMARK
015 E040024 X
015 A000025 MERITA BANK LIMITED
015 B000025 S
015 C010025 HELSINKI
015 D010025 FINLAND
015 E040025 X
015 A000026 BANQUE PARIBAS
015 B000026 S
015 C010026 PARIS
015 D010026 FRANCE
015 E040026 X
015 A000027 DRESDNER BANK AG
015 B000027 S
015 C010027 RANKFURT
015 D010027 GERMANY
015 E040027 X
015 A000028 NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A.
015 B000028 S
<PAGE> PAGE 5
015 C010028 ATHENS
015 D010028 GREECE
015 E040028 X
015 A000029 CITIBANK BUDAPEST RT.
015 B000029 S
015 C010029 BUDAPEST
015 D010029 HUNGARY
015 E040029 X
015 A000030 BANK OF IRELAND
015 B000030 S
015 C010030 DUBLIN
015 D010030 IRELAND
015 E040030 X
015 A000031 BANK HAPOALIM B.M.
015 B000031 S
015 C010031 TEL AVIV
015 D010031 ISRAEL
015 E040031 X
015 A000032 BANQUE PARIBAS
015 B000032 S
015 C010032 MILAN
015 D010032 ITALY
015 E040032 X
015 A000033 THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. LTD.
015 B000033 S
015 C010033 BOMBAY
015 D010033 INDIA
015 E040033 X
015 A000034 CITIBANK MEXICO, S.A.
015 B000034 S
015 C010034 MEXICO CITY
015 D010034 MEXICO
015 E040034 X
015 A000035 MEESPIERSON N.V.
015 B000035 S
015 C010035 AMSTERDAM
015 D010035 NETHERLANDS
015 E040035 X
015 A000036 CHRISTIANIA BANK OG KREDITKASSE
015 B000036 S
015 C010036 OSLO
015 D010036 NORWAY
015 E040036 X
015 A000037 DEUTSCHE BANK AG
015 B000037 S
015 C010037 KARACHI
015 D010037 PAKISTAN
015 E040037 X
015 A000038 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000038 S
015 C010038 LIMA
<PAGE> PAGE 6
015 D010038 PERU
015 E040038 X
015 A000039 CITIBANK POLAND, S.A.
015 B000039 S
015 C010039 WARSAW
015 D010039 POLAND
015 E040039 X
015 A000040 BANCO COMERCIAL PORTUGUES
015 B000040 S
015 C010040 LISBON
015 D010040 PORTUGAL
015 E040040 X
015 A000041 CESKOSLOVENSKA OBCHODNA BANKA A.S.
015 B000041 S
015 C010041 BRATISLAVA
015 D010041 SLOVAK REPUBLIC
015 E040041 X
015 A000042 STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA LTD.
015 B000042 S
015 C010042 JOHANNESBURG
015 D010042 SOUTH AFRICA
015 E040042 X
015 A000043 BANCO SANTANDER, S.A.
015 B000043 S
015 C010043 MADRID
015 D010043 SPAIN
015 E040043 X
015 A000044 SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN
015 B000044 S
015 C010044 STOCKHOLM
015 D010044 SWEDEN
015 E040044 X
015 A000045 UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
015 B000045 S
015 C010045 ZURICH
015 D010045 SWITZERLAND
015 E040045 X
015 A000046 CENTRAL TRUST OF CHINA
015 B000046 S
015 C010046 TAIPEI
015 D010046 TAIWAN
015 E040046 X
015 A000047 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000047 S
015 C010047 ISTANBUL
015 D010047 TURKEY
015 E040047 X
015 A000048 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000048 S
015 C010048 MONTEVIDEO
015 D010048 URUGUAY
<PAGE> PAGE 7
015 E040048 X
015 A000049 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000049 S
015 C010049 CARACAS
015 D010049 VENEZUELA
015 E040049 X
015 A000050 THE DAIWA BANK, LIMITED
015 B000050 S
015 C010050 TOKYO
015 D010050 JAPAN
015 E040050 X
015 A000051 THE FUJI BANK, LIMITED
015 B000051 S
015 C010051 TOKYO
015 D010051 JAPAN
015 E040051 X
015 A000052 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
015 B000052 S
015 C010052 NICOSIA
015 D010052 CYPRUS
015 E040052 X
015 A000053 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000053 S
015 C010053 GUITO
015 D010053 EQUADOR
015 E040053 X
015 A000054 NATIONAL BANK OF EGYPT
015 B000054 S
015 C010054 CAIRO
015 D010054 EGYPT
015 E040054 X
015 A000055 BARCLAYS BANK OF GHANA LIMITED
015 B000055 S
015 C010055 ACCRA
015 D010055 GHANA
015 E040055 X
015 A000056 SOCIETE GENERALE DE BANQUES EN COTE D'IVOIRE
015 B000056 S
015 C010056 ABIDJAN
015 D010056 IVORY COAST
015 E040056 X
015 A000057 THE BRITISH BANK OF THE MIDDLE EAST
015 B000057 S
015 C010057 AMMAN
015 D010057 JORDAN
015 E040057 X
015 A000058 BARCLAYS BANK OF KENYA LIMITED
015 B000058 S
015 C010058 NAIROBI
015 D010058 KENYA
015 E040058 X
<PAGE> PAGE 8
015 A000059 THE BRITISH BANK OF THE MIDDLE EAST
015 B000059 S
015 C010059 BEIRUT
015 D010059 LEBANON
015 E040059 X
015 A000060 BANQUE COMMERCIALE DU MAROC
015 B000060 S
015 C010060 CASABLANA
015 D010060 MOROCCO
015 E040060 X
015 A000061 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, ZURICH
015 B000061 S
015 C010061 MOSCOW
015 D010061 RUSSIA
015 E040061 X
015 A000062 THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. LTD
015 B000062 S
015 C010062 COLOMBO
015 D010062 SRI LANKA
015 E040062 X
015 A000063 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000063 S
015 C010063 DHAKA
015 D010063 BANGLADESH
015 E040063 X
015 A000064 THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHI BANKING CORP. LTD.
015 B000064 S
015 C010064 SHANGHAI
015 D010064 CHINA
015 E040064 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 104
019 C000000 PRUDENTIAL
020 A000001 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
020 B000001 22-2347336
020 C000001 198
020 A000002 BERSTEIN (STANFORD C.) & CO., INC.
020 B000002 13-2625874
020 C000002 100
020 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
020 B000003 13-2731510
020 C000003 75
020 A000004 CS FORST BOSTON CORPORATION
020 B000004 13-5659485
020 C000004 66
020 A000005 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES INC.
020 B000005 13-3224016
020 C000005 59
020 A000006 WEEDEN & CO.
020 B000006 13-3364318
<PAGE> PAGE 9
020 C000006 45
020 A000007 MERRILL, LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
020 B000007 13-5674085
020 C000007 45
020 A000008 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SEC. CORP.
020 B000008 13-2741729
020 C000008 43
020 A000009 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
020 B000009 13-2518466
020 C000009 37
020 A000010 BT ALEX. BROWN INC,
020 B000010 13-3311934
020 C000010 35
021 000000 1043
022 A000001 BEAR STEARNS & CO., INC.
022 B000001 13-3299429
022 C000001 2541354
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
022 B000002 13-3082694
022 C000002 2133848
022 D000002 14976
022 A000003 WARBURG DILLON READ
022 B000003 13-3340045
022 C000003 1539417
022 D000003 0
022 A000004 GOLDMAN SACHS INC.
022 B000004 13-5108880
022 C000004 1013643
022 D000004 25959
022 A000005 DEUTSCHE MORGAN GRENFELL INC.
022 B000005 13-2730828
022 C000005 962942
022 D000005 0
022 A000006 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
022 B000006 13-2518466
022 C000006 743420
022 D000006 19978
022 A000007 CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000007 13-5659485
022 C000007 715434
022 D000007 5092
022 A000008 MORGAN (J.P) SECURITIES INC.
022 B000008 13-3224016
022 C000008 354110
022 D000008 2785
022 A000009 CHASE SECURITIES INC.
022 B000009 13-3112953
022 C000009 149484
022 D000009 54482
022 A000010 BANK OF AMERICA NT & SA
<PAGE> PAGE 10
022 B000010 94-1687665
022 C000010 148693
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 10979509
023 D000000 143253
024 000000 Y
025 A000001 DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
025 B000001 13-2730828
025 C000001 D
025 D000001 38085
025 A000002 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
025 B000002 13-5108880
025 C000002 D
025 D000002 50780
025 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
025 B000003 13-2731510
025 C000003 D
025 D000003 58127
025 A000004 WARBURG DILLON READ
025 B000004 13-3340045
025 C000004 D
025 D000004 50780
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
025 D000009 0
025 D000010 0
025 D000011 0
025 D000012 0
025 D000013 0
025 D000014 0
025 D000015 0
025 D000016 0
025 D000017 0
025 D000018 0
025 D000019 0
025 D000020 0
025 D000021 0
025 D000022 0
025 D000023 0
025 D000024 0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 N
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 11
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 209457
028 A020000 0
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 465758
028 B010000 315659
028 B020000 0
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 466274
028 C010000 483410
028 C020000 0
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 602028
028 D010000 311904
028 D020000 101479
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 424010
028 E010000 290038
028 E020000 0
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 355315
028 F010000 485582
028 F020000 0
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 420476
028 G010000 2096050
028 G020000 101479
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 2733860
028 H000000 1720479
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 593
030 B000000 5.00
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 110
031 B000000 0
032 000000 0
033 000000 483
034 000000 Y
035 000000 3319
036 A000000 N
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 100
<PAGE> PAGE 12
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 17256
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 500000
048 A020000 0.500
048 B010000 500000
048 B020000 0.475
048 C010000 0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000 0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000 0
048 E020000 0.000
048 F010000 0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000 0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 1000000
048 K020000 0.450
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 N
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 Y
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 N
054 M000000 N
054 N000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 13
054 O000000 N
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 1000
062 A000000 N
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 0.0
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 0.0
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 D000000 Y
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 Y
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 Y
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 Y
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 Y
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 14
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 N
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 N
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 Y
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 314139
071 B000000 726292
071 C000000 2795102
071 D000000 11
072 A000000 6
072 B000000 5874
072 C000000 59177
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 12349
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 3483
072 J000000 149
072 K000000 0
072 L000000 273
072 M000000 22
072 N000000 139
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 15
072 S000000 15
072 T000000 17256
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 73
072 X000000 33774
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 31277
<PAGE> PAGE 15
072AA000000 377945
072BB000000 70157
072CC010000 1769415
072CC020000 0
072DD010000 0
072DD020000 0
072EE000000 105283
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 0.4200
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 0
074 B000000 197772
074 C000000 94470
074 D000000 0
074 E000000 0
074 F000000 5476052
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 3046
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 9388
074 M000000 47
074 N000000 5780775
074 O000000 18701
074 P000000 2175
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 16339
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 5743560
074 U010000 136948
074 U020000 111481
074 V010000 22.28
074 V020000 22.40
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 492269
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 5450659
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 N
078 000000 N
080 C000000 0
081 B000000 0
082 B000000 0
083 B000000 0
084 B000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 16
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE GRACE C. TORRES
TITLE TREASURER
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000356683
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> EQUITY FUND (CLASS A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,998,876,269
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 5,768,294,325
<RECEIVABLES> 12,433,518
<ASSETS-OTHER> 47,010
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 18,700,797
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 18,514,433
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,633,058,004
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 257,077,133
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 284,143,853
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 35,293,480
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 305,793,455
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,769,414,684
<NET-ASSETS> (541,220,986)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 59,177,432
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,873,784
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 33,774,488
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 31,276,728
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 307,787,502
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 435,631,452
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 774,695,682
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (105,283,498)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,096,049,837
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,733,860,875)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 101,478,620
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 133,079,766
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,016,752
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 103,289,451
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 12,349,143
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 33,774,488
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,221,204,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.76
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.15
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.91
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.42)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.40
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.86
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000356683
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> EQUITY FUND (CLASS B)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,998,876,269
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 5,768,294,325
<RECEIVABLES> 12,433,518
<ASSETS-OTHER> 47,010
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 18,700,797
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 18,514,433
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,633,058,004
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 257,077,133
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 284,143,853
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 35,293,480
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 305,793,455
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,769,414,684
<NET-ASSETS> (541,220,986)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 59,177,432
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,873,784
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 33,774,488
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 31,276,728
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 307,787,502
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 435,631,452
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 774,695,682
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (105,283,498)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,096,049,837
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,733,860,875)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 101,478,620
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 133,079,766
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,016,752
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 103,289,451
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 12,349,143
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 33,774,488
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,837,094,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.73
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.10
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.87
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.42)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.28
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.61
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000356683
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> EQUITY FUND (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,998,876,269
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 5,768,294,325
<RECEIVABLES> 12,433,518
<ASSETS-OTHER> 47,010
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 18,700,797
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 18,514,433
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,633,058,004
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 257,077,133
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 284,143,853
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 35,293,480
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 305,793,455
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,769,414,684
<NET-ASSETS> (541,220,986)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 59,177,432
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,873,784
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 33,774,488
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 31,276,728
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 307,787,502
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 435,631,452
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 774,695,682
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (105,283,498)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,096,049,837
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,733,860,875)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 101,478,620
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 133,079,766
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,016,752
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 103,289,451
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 12,349,143
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 33,774,488
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 87,408,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.73
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.10
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.87
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.42)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.28
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.61
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000356683
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> EQUITY FUND (CLASS Z)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,998,876,269
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 5,768,294,325
<RECEIVABLES> 12,433,518
<ASSETS-OTHER> 47,010
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 18,700,797
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 18,514,433
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,633,058,004
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 257,077,133
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 284,143,853
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 35,293,480
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 305,793,455
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,769,414,684
<NET-ASSETS> (541,220,986)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 59,177,432
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,873,784
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 33,774,488
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 31,276,728
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 307,787,502
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 435,631,452
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 774,695,682
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (105,283,498)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,096,049,837
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,733,860,875)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 101,478,620
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 133,079,766
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,016,752
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 103,289,451
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 12,349,143
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 33,774,488
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 304,953,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.76
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.90
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.42)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.43
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.61
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>