WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000745968
<NAME> FEDERATED EQUITY FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> FEDERATED GROWTH STATEGIES FUND - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Oct-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,315,062,600
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,705,790,309
<RECEIVABLES> 21,860,056
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 32,642
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,727,683,007
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 9,925,577
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,305,476
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 12,231,053
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,214,456,532
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 29,924,174
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 20,606,831
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 110,267,713
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 390,727,709
<NET-ASSETS> 1,216,668,745
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4,174,695
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,706,112
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (21,690,751)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (14,809,944)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 111,917,248
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 55,638,673
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 152,745,977
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (90,688,065)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 35,499,272
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (28,122,031)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,940,102
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 731,437,571
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 114,154,659
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 11,655,341
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 21,716,101
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,553,936,054
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 37.700
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.330)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 7.620
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (4.330)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 40.660
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.20
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.000
</TABLE>
