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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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020 C000006 1802
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 C000003 2525739
022 D000003 661803
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022 B000004 13-5659485
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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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 M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 30,702,215,409
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 35,750,059,334
<RECEIVABLES> 260,998,110
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 155,380,042
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 263,252,545
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
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<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,761,731
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<NET-ASSETS> 35,747,804,899
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 701,794,416
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2,836,387,437
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3,627,607,084
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3,281,201)
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<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> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 30,702,215,409
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 35,750,059,334
<RECEIVABLES> 260,998,110
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</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 A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 30,702,215,409
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 35,750,059,334
<RECEIVABLES> 260,998,110
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 409,671,608
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> .84
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<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> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 30,702,215,409
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 35,750,059,334
<RECEIVABLES> 260,998,110
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
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<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 654,479,818
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 701,794,416
<INTEREST-INCOME> 28,209,647
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 399,974,694
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 330,029,369
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</TABLE>
