WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS, AND STATEMENT
OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS FOUND ON PAGES 32 THROUGH 56 OF THE FORTIS STOCK
FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000049925
<NAME> FORTIS GROWTH FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 005
<NAME> FORTIS GROWTH FUND, INC. CLASS Z
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> FEB-29-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 824,260,037
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,608,767,241
<RECEIVABLES> 26,118,242
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 97,097
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,634,982,580
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 13,902,770
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,331,178
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 15,233,948
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 692,408,280
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4,971,059
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,828,249
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (3,466,038)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 146,299,186
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 784,507,204
<NET-ASSETS> 1,619,748,632
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 838,281
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,806,887
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (6,111,206)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (3,466,038)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 147,011,216
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 605,592,691
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 749,137,869
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (23,575,253)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,008,107
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (628,840)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 763,543
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 690,506,726
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0.00
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 202,090,644
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,178,989
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 6,111,206
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,149,839,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 31.23
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.13)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 22.65
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (6.85)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 46.90
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .80<F1>
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
<FN>
<F1>ANNUALIZED
</FN>
</TABLE>
