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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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020 C000007 318
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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SIGNATURE PAUL BUCUVALAS
TITLE MANAGING DIRECTOR
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Vista Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 4,274,698,596
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 5,767,396,147
<RECEIVABLES> 164,770,938
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<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
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<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 28,710,164
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (14,418,791)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 171,027,941
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 370,419,055
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 527,028,205
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (249,823,981)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> .48
<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 Vista Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 4,274,698,596
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 5,767,396,147
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 134,096,761
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 123,035,390
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 170,840,758
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> .86
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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>
Putnam Vista Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 29,131,882
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 119,510,795
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.22
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.05)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> .73
<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 Vista Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS Y
<S> <C>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
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</TABLE>