<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 03/31/97
000 C000000 0000842436
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 THE EVERGREEN EQUITY TRUST
001 B000000 811-5684
001 C000000 6172103571
002 A000000 200 BERKELEY STREET
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02116
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 1
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 THE EVERGREEN U.S. REAL ESTATE EQUITY FUND
007 C030100 N
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
020 A000001 LIEBER & CO.
020 B000001 13-2639722
020 C000001 56
020 A000002 INSTINET CORP.
020 B000002 13-3443395
020 C000002 5
020 C000003 0
020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 61
022 A000001 MORGAN J.P. SECURITIES
022 B000001 13-3224016
<PAGE> PAGE 2
022 C000001 1048
022 D000001 2996
022 A000002 CHASE CORP.
022 B000002 13-3112953
022 C000002 1098
022 D000002 199
022 A000003 MONTGOMERY SECURITES
022 B000003 13-6936366
022 C000003 1030
022 D000003 53
022 A000004 SMITH BARNEY, INC.
022 B000004 13-1912900
022 C000004 935
022 D000004 0
022 A000005 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000005 22-2347336
022 C000005 782
022 D000005 0
022 A000006 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
022 B000006 13-5108880
022 C000006 372
022 D000006 299
022 A000007 FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
022 B000007 36-3595942
022 C000007 599
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 LIEBER & CO.
022 B000008 13-2639722
022 C000008 550
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 ROBINSON-HUMPHREY CO., INC.
022 B000009 58-1472560
022 C000009 156
022 D000009 247
022 A000010 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
022 B000010 13-2518466
022 C000010 400
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 7934
023 D000000 3999
077 A000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
078 000000 N
011 A000101 EVERGREEN KEYSTONE DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B000101 8-46906
011 C010101 FALLS RIVER
011 C020101 NJ
011 C030101 00000
018 000100 Y
019 A000100 Y
019 B000100 78
<PAGE> PAGE 3
019 C000100 EVERGREENS
028 A010100 383
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 267
028 B010100 119
028 B020100 0
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 108
028 C010100 195
028 C020100 1419
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 85
028 D010100 911
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 148
028 E010100 426
028 E020100 0
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 55
028 F010100 440
028 F020100 0
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 213
028 G010100 2474
028 G020100 1419
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 876
028 H000100 132
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 7
030 B000100 4.75
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 1
031 B000100 0
032 000100 6
033 000100 0
034 000100 Y
035 000100 86
036 A000100 Y
036 B000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 0
042 D000100 100
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 7
<PAGE> PAGE 4
044 000100 0
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
071 A000100 12788
071 B000100 11538
071 C000100 13469
071 D000100 86
072 A000100 6
072 B000100 3
072 C000100 214
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 67
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 26
072 J000100 35
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 5
072 M000100 3
072 N000100 32
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 13
072 S000100 2
072 T000100 7
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 5
072 X000100 195
072 Y000100 88
072 Z000100 110
072AA000100 1610
072BB000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
072CC010100 558
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 228
072DD020100 22
072EE000100 1456
073 A010100 0.2800
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 1.5800
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 0
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 0
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 14485
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 940
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 91
074 M000100 36
074 N000100 15552
074 O000100 401
074 P000100 67
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 76
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 15008
074 U010100 958
074 U020100 191
074 V010100 0.00
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 603
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 13508
076 000100 0.00
080 A000100 VIGILANT INSURANCE CO.
080 C000100 30400
081 A000100 Y
081 B000100 43
082 A000100 N
082 B000100 0
SIGNATURE J. KEVIN KENELY
TITLE V.P. FUND ADMIN
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN U.S. REAL ESTATE EQUITY FUND CLASS A
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 13,582,496
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 14,485,062
<RECEIVABLES> 1,030,843
<ASSETS-OTHER> 36,469
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,552,374
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 401,259
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 143,552
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 544,811
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 12,792,067
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 64,435
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 21,053
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 56,552
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,256,378
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 902,566
<NET-ASSETS> 837,693
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 213,466
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,438
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 107,114
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 109,790
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,609,538
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 557,791
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,277,119
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (44,457)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 43,688
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3,371)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,065
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3,587,510
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 197,030
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,102,519
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 67,021
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 107,114
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 501,994
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.49
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.08
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.27
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.84)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.77
<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>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN U.S. REAL ESTATE EQUITY FUND CLASS B
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 13,582,496
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 14,485,062
<RECEIVABLES> 1,030,843
<ASSETS-OTHER> 36,469
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,552,374
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 401,259
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 143,552
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 544,811
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 12,792,067
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 86,811
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 34,708
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 56,552
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,256,378
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 902,566
<NET-ASSETS> 1,121,253
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 213,466
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,438
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 107,114
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 109,790
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,609,538
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 557,791
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,277,119
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (88,418)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 47,059
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,044)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 7,088
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3,587,510
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 197,030
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,102,519
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 67,021
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 107,114
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 780,187
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.41
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.04
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.25
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.78)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.92
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.52
<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>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN U.S. REAL ESTATE EQUITY FUND CLASS A
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 13,582,496
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 14,485,062
<RECEIVABLES> 1,030,843
<ASSETS-OTHER> 36,469
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,552,374
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 401,259
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 143,552
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 544,811
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 12,792,067
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 39,993
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 10,050
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 56,552
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,256,378
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 902,566
<NET-ASSETS> 515,893
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 213,466
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,438
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 107,114
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 109,790
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,609,538
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 557,791
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,277,119
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (52,119)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 31,902
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3,501)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,542
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3,587,510
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 197,030
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,102,519
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 67,021
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 107,114
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 406,122
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.44
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.04
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.23
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.81)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.90
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.52
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN U.S. REAL ESTATE EQUITY FUND CLASS A
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 13,582,496
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 14,485,062
<RECEIVABLES> 1,030,843
<ASSETS-OTHER> 36,469
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,552,374
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 401,259
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 143,552
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 544,811
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 12,792,067
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 958,442
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 844,133
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 56,552
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,256,378
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 902,566
<NET-ASSETS> 12,532,724
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 213,466
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,438
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 107,114
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 109,790
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,609,538
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 557,791
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,277,119
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,520,953)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 67,383
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (57,674)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 104,600
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3,587,510
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 197,030
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,102,519
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 67,021
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 107,114
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 11,819,399
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.56
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.11
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.27
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.86)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.08
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.52
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
