<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 07/31/99
000 C000000 0000081269
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 PUTNAM INVESTORS FUND
001 B000000 811-159
001 C000000 6172921000
002 A000000 ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
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 PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-7974
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02109
011 A000001 PUTNAM MUTUAL FUNDS
011 B000001 8-5088
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02109
012 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES
012 B000001 84-401299
012 C010001 BOSTON
012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02109
013 A000001 KPMG
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 B030001 02109
015 A000001 PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02109
015 E010001 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 97
019 C000000 PUTNAMFUND
020 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
020 B000001 13-5108880
020 C000001 1209
020 A000002 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
020 C000002 938
020 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
020 C000003 903
020 A000004 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
020 C000004 696
020 A000005 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
020 B000005 13-5674085
020 C000005 657
020 A000006 PAINEWEBBER INC.
020 B000006 13-2638166
020 C000006 524
020 A000007 EDWARDS (A.G.) & SONS INC.
020 B000007 43-0895477
020 C000007 383
020 A000008 LEHMAN BOTHERS
020 B000008 13-2518466
020 C000008 373
020 A000009 DEUTSCHE BANK CAPITAL CORP.
020 B000009 13-6124068
020 C000009 290
020 A000010 BRIDGE TRADING CO.
020 B000010 43-1034850
020 C000010 240
021 000000 8699
022 A000001 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000001 13-2518466
022 C000001 8201304
022 D000001 84965
022 A000002 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
022 B000002 13-5108880
022 C000002 5538411
022 D000002 275505
022 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
022 B000003 13-5674085
022 C000003 1685189
022 D000003 236429
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 A000004 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
022 C000004 1476266
022 D000004 174090
022 A000005 WARBURG DILLON READ
022 C000005 1476862
022 D000005 25448
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER.
022 C000006 1145555
022 D000006 301982
022 A000007 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
022 C000007 934159
022 D000007 76900
022 A000008 DIRECT ASSOCIATES CORP. OF N.A.
022 C000008 721881
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES INC.
022 B000009 13-3224016
022 C000009 530310
022 D000009 124388
022 A000010 HOUSEHOLD FINANCE
022 C000010 344938
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 23083726
023 D000000 1419536
024 000000 N
025 A000001 DELETE
025 D000001 0
025 A000002 DELETE
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 Y
026 G020000 Y
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 556190
028 A020000 0
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 167257
028 B010000 683838
028 B020000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 187368
028 C010000 771945
028 C020000 0
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 179389
028 D010000 633893
028 D020000 0
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 186915
028 E010000 416843
028 E020000 0
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 181037
028 F010000 779227
028 F020000 0
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 203428
028 G010000 3841936
028 G020000 0
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 1105394
028 H000000 3841936
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 36844
030 B000000 5.75
030 C000000 3.50
031 A000000 5802
031 B000000 0
032 000000 31042
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 3274
036 A000000 Y
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 100
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 31830
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 5
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 500000
048 A020000 0.650
048 B010000 500000
048 B020000 0.550
048 C010000 500000
048 C020000 0.500
048 D010000 5000000
048 D020000 0.450
048 E010000 5000000
048 E020000 0.425
048 F010000 5000000
048 F020000 0.405
048 G010000 5000000
048 G020000 0.390
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 21500000
048 K020000 0.380
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 Y
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 N
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 6
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 500
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 B000000 N
066 C000000 N
066 D000000 Y
066 E000000 N
066 F000000 N
066 G000000 N
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 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 Y
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 N
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
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 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 Y
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 9600203
071 B000000 5059410
071 C000000 6770590
071 D000000 75
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 9561
072 C000000 41593
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 32922
072 G000000 37
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 7884
072 J000000 -1
072 K000000 638
072 L000000 268
072 M000000 69
072 N000000 1228
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 56
072 S000000 42
072 T000000 31830
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 605
072 X000000 75578
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 -24424
072AA000000 71709
072BB000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072CC010000 1096027
072CC020000 0
072DD010000 0
072DD020000 0
072EE000000 104261
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 0.3820
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 0
074 B000000 88444
074 C000000 0
074 D000000 0
074 E000000 0
074 F000000 10052504
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 16178
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 46264
074 M000000 0
074 N000000 10203390
074 O000000 47427
074 P000000 17202
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 23597
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 10115164
074 U010000 388613
074 U020000 201168
074 V010000 15.78
074 V020000 15.06
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 561713
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 6954525
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A000000 FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANU
080 B000000 NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C000000 50000
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 96
082 A000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 9
082 B000000 0
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
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 PAUL G. BUCUVALAS
TITLE MANAGING DIRECTOR
Page
The Board of Trustees
Putnam Investors Fund
In planning and performing our audit of the financial
statements of Putnam Investors Fund for the year ended July
31, 1999, we considered its internal control, including
control activities for safeguarding securities, in order to
determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of
expressing our opinion on the financial statements and to
comply with the requirements of Form N-SAR, not to provide
assurance on internal control.
The management of Putnam Investor Fund is responsible for
establishing and maintaining internal control. In fulfilling
this responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are
required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls. Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit
pertain to the entity's objective of preparing financial
statements for external purposes that are fairly presented in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Those controls include the safeguarding of assets against
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal control, errors or
irregularities may occur and not be detected. Also,
projection of any evaluation of internal control to future
periods is subject to the risks that it may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of
the design and operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily
disclose all matters in internal control that might be
material weaknesses under standards established by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A
material weakness is a condition in which the design or
operation of one or more of the internal control components
does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that errors
or irregularities in amounts that would be material in
relation to the financial statements being audited may occur
and not be detected within a timely period by employees in the
normal course of performing their assigned functions.
However, we noted no matters involving internal control and
its operation, including controls for safeguarding securities,
that we consider to be material weaknesses as defined above.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of
management, the Board of Trustees of Putnam Investor Fund, and
the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not intended to
be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified
parties.
Boston, Massachusetts
September 8, 1999
/s/ KPMG LLP
July 16, 1999
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Sirs:
We have read the statements made by John D. Hughes,
Treasurer of The Putnam Funds (copy attached), which we
understand will be filed in response to Sub-Item 77k of Form
N-SAR and agree with the statements concerning our firm
contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
July 12, 1999
Mr. B. Robert Rubin, Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Dear Mr. Rubin:
On June 3, 1999, the Audit and Pricing Committee of the
Putnam funds listed on the attached Exhibit 1 voted to
recommend to the Trustees not to retain
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent accountants
for such funds. The Trustees are expected to consider this
recommendation at their upcoming meeting in July.
In accordance with the requirements of Item 304 of
Regulation S-K, please provide us with a letter from your
firm addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission
stating your agreement with the following:
1. On June 3, 1999, the Audit and Pricing Committee
of the Putnam funds specified on Exhibit 1 voted
not to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the
funds' independent accountants. The Trustees are
expected to consider this recommendation at their
upcoming meeting in July.
2. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's reports on the funds'
financial statements for fiscal years ended in
1997 and 1998 did not contain an adverse opinion
or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit
scope or accounting principles.
3. During the funds' fiscal years ended in 1997 and
1998, and through the date hereof, (i) there were
no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements,
July 12, 1999
-2-
Mr. B. Robert Rubin, Partner
if not resolved to the satisfaction of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, would have caused it
to make reference to the subject matter of the
disagreement in its report on the financial
statements for such years and (ii) there were no
"reportable events" as defined in paragraph (a)
(l) (v) of item 304 of Regulation S-K.
A copy of your letter will be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission along with this letter as an exhibit
to each fund's next form N-SAR (in accordance with Sub-Item
77k of form N-SAR).
Sincerely,
/s/ John D. Hughes
Treasurer of The Putnam
Funds
Exhibit 1
Trust/Fund 1940 Act 1933 Act
SEC File No: Sec File
No:
Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 811-7237 33-56339
Putnam Investors Fund 811-159 2-10783
Putnam Premier Income Trust 811-5452 33-19648
Putnam Research Fund 811-7237 33-56339
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 811-3630
2-81011
Putnam California Tax Exempt Money Market 811-5333
33-17211
Fund
Putnam Asia Pacific Growth Fund 811-6202 33-37528
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 811-2675 2-57165
Putnam Convertible Income-Growth Trust 811-2280
2-43384
Putnam Global Growth Fund 811-1403 2-25258
Putnam Income Fund 811-653 2-11147
Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust 811-5740
33-26292
Putnam Master Income Trust 811-5375 33-18169
Putnam Equity Income Fund 811-2742 2-58869
Putnam Growth & Income Fund II 811-7223 33-55979
Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund 811-4616 33-2710
Putnam Intermediate U.S. Government Income 811-6257
33-37991
Fund
Putnam Investment Grade Municipal Trust 811-5901
33-30934
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Investors Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 7,965,422,486
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 10,140,947,838
<RECEIVABLES> 62,442,038
<ASSETS-OTHER> 181
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,203,390,057
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 47,427,377
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 40,799,031
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 88,226,408
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 7,869,844,856
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 388,613,328
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 234,885,314
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 69,793,441
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,175,525,352
<NET-ASSETS> 10,115,163,649
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 41,592,500
<INTEREST-INCOME> 9,561,150
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 75,578,098
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (24,424,448)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 71,709,481
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1,096,027,095
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,143,312,128
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (104,260,696)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 227,890,520
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (81,142,762)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 6,980,256
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,632,626,154
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 159,282,911
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 32,921,759
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 76,525,819
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4,502,530,343
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.67
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.02)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.51
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.38)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.78
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .89
[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>
Putnam Investors Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 7,965,422,486
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 10,140,947,838
<RECEIVABLES> 62,442,038
<ASSETS-OTHER> 181
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,203,390,057
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 47,427,377
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 40,799,031
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 88,226,408
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 7,869,844,856
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 201,167,798
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 74,395,758
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 69,793,441
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,175,525,352
<NET-ASSETS> 10,115,163,649
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 41,592,500
<INTEREST-INCOME> 9,561,150
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 75,578,098
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (24,424,448)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 71,709,481
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1,096,027,095
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,143,312,128
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (42,895,379)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 162,085,094
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (38,333,322)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,020,268
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,632,626,154
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 159,282,911
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 32,921,759
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 76,525,819
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,950,684,947
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.17
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.13)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.40
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.38)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.06
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.64
[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>
Putnam Investors Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 7,965,422,486
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 10,140,947,838
<RECEIVABLES> 62,442,038
<ASSETS-OTHER> 181
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,203,390,057
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 47,427,377
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 40,799,031
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 88,226,408
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 7,869,844,856
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 97,234
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 69,793,441
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,175,525,352
<NET-ASSETS> 10,115,163,649
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 41,592,500
<INTEREST-INCOME> 9,561,150
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 75,578,098
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (24,424,448)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 71,709,481
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1,096,027,095
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,143,312,128
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 97,234
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,632,626,154
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 159,282,911
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 32,921,759
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 76,525,819
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 607,042
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 16.08
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.31)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.77
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .03
[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>
Putnam Investors Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 7,965,422,486
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 10,140,947,838
<RECEIVABLES> 62,442,038
<ASSETS-OTHER> 181
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,203,390,057
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 47,427,377
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 40,799,031
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 88,226,408
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 7,869,844,856
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 12,924,354
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6,512,897
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 69,793,441
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,175,525,352
<NET-ASSETS> 10,115,163,649
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 41,592,500
<INTEREST-INCOME> 9,561,150
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 75,578,098
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (24,424,448)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 71,709,481
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1,096,027,095
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,143,312,128
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (3,292,652)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 9,707,455
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3,530,485)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 234,487
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,632,626,154
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 159,282,911
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 32,921,759
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 76,525,819
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 142,522,109
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.47
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.09)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.46
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.38)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.46
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.39
[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>
Putnam Investors Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS Y
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 7,965,422,486
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 10,140,947,838
<RECEIVABLES> 62,442,038
<ASSETS-OTHER> 181
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,203,390,057
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 47,427,377
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 40,799,031
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 88,226,408
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 7,869,844,856
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 47,635,019
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14,983,802
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 69,793,441
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,175,525,352
<NET-ASSETS> 10,115,163,649
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 41,592,500
<INTEREST-INCOME> 9,561,150
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 75,578,098
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (24,424,448)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 71,709,481
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1,096,027,095
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,143,312,128
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (5,993,204)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 45,409,117
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (13,193,453)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 435,553
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,632,626,154
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 159,282,911
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 32,921,759
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 76,525,819
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 357,775,243
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.70
<PER-SHARE-NII> .01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.51
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.38)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.84
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .64
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>