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<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 B030001 02109
015 A000001 PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST COMPANY
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020 C000002 1666
020 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY INC.
020 B000003 13-2655998
020 C000003 1559
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020 B000004 13-5108880
020 C000004 1379
020 A000005 DEUTSCHE MORGAN GRENFELL
020 C000005 1373
020 A000006 BEAR STERNS & CO.
020 B000006 13-4946705
020 C000006 920
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020 B000007 13-3082694
020 C000007 864
020 A000008 EDWARDS (A.G) & SONS INC.
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020 C000008 712
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020 C000009 528
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022 C000002 2039210
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022 C000003 1414055
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 D000003 445903
022 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY INC.
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022 C000004 327864
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 I010000 N
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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SIGNATURE PAUL BUCUVALAS
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The Putnam Fund for Growth and Income
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> APR-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 29,617,121,308
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 37,435,044,067
<RECEIVABLES> 364,916,625
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2,328,091
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 37,802,288,783
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 220,110,020
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 98,300,956
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 318,410,976
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 27,940,286,641
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 907,101,853
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 781,023,844
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 156,720,201
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,882,976,156
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7,817,335,211
<NET-ASSETS> 37,483,877,807
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 329,203,500
<INTEREST-INCOME> 20,776,113
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 195,634,106
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 154,345,507
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,871,003,994
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,230,681,564
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,256,031,065
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (194,098,708)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1,874,744,187)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 108,402,287
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (79,738,332)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 97,414,054
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 6,622,613,636
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,925,681
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3,582,275,425
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
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<PER-SHARE-NII> .13
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.23)
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<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 21.55
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .42
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The Putnam Fund for Growth and Income
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> APR-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 29,617,121,308
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 37,435,044,067
<RECEIVABLES> 364,916,625
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2,328,091
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 37,802,288,783
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 220,110,020
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 98,300,956
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 318,410,976
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 27,940,286,641
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 779,868,275
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 654,479,818
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 156,720,201
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,882,976,156
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7,817,335,211
<NET-ASSETS> 37,483,877,807
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 329,203,500
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<EXPENSES-NET> 195,634,106
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 154,345,507
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,871,003,994
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,230,681,564
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,256,031,065
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (110,420,820)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1,574,713,262)
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 90,147,931
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (44,282,536)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 79,523,062
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 6,622,613,636
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,925,681
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3,582,275,425
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 70,239,346
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 195,634,106
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<PER-SHARE-NII> .05
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.16)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 21.29
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .80
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The Putnam Fund for Growth and Income
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> APR-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 29,617,121,308
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 37,435,044,067
<RECEIVABLES> 364,916,625
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2,328,091
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 37,802,288,783
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 220,110,020
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 98,300,956
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 318,410,976
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 27,940,286,641
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 20,381,427
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,761,731
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 156,720,201
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,882,976,156
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7,817,335,211
<NET-ASSETS> 37,483,877,807
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 329,203,500
<INTEREST-INCOME> 20,776,113
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 195,634,106
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 154,345,507
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,871,003,994
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,230,681,564
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,256,031,065
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3,333,480)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (40,620,385)
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3,906,595
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,388,798)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2,101,899
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 6,622,613,636
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,925,681
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3,582,275,425
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 70,239,346
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 195,634,106
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 393,782,491
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.77
<PER-SHARE-NII> .08
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.18)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (2.38)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 21.43
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .67
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The Putnam Fund for Growth and Income
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS Y
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> APR-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 29,617,121,308
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 37,435,044,067
<RECEIVABLES> 364,916,625
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2,328,091
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 37,802,288,783
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 220,110,020
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 98,300,956
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 318,410,976
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 27,940,286,641
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 41,603,262
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 33,530,452
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 156,720,201
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,882,976,156
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7,817,335,211
<NET-ASSETS> 37,483,877,807
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 329,203,500
<INTEREST-INCOME> 20,776,113
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 195,634,106
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 154,345,507
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,871,003,994
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,230,681,564
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,256,031,065
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (9,138,381)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (80,225,429)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 9,247,123
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (5,657,423)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4,483,110
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 6,622,613,636
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,925,681
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3,582,275,425
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 70,239,346
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 195,634,106
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 782,899,036
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.90
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> .30
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
