<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000814507
<NAME>MERRILL LYNCH STRATEGIC DIVIDEND FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 131168582
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 164064662
<RECEIVABLES> 408711
<ASSETS-OTHER> 721789
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 165195162
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 980752
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 980752
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 119035290
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1504635
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1784846
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 314545
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 12010410
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 32854165
<NET-ASSETS> 19114568
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 5641988
<INTEREST-INCOME> 935709
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (2832394)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3745303
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 12225573
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (27955843)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (11984967)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 528692
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1077347
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 288047
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (675680)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 107422
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (69682247)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 420994
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 9907698
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1193351
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2832394
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 21863695
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.27
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.31
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.94)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.32)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.62)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.70
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.95
</TABLE>
