<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000859903
<NAME> LORD ABBETT EQUITY FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 45,699,403
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 49,644,431
<RECEIVABLES> 2,452,764
<ASSETS-OTHER> 99,956
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 52,197,151
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,319,594
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 215,798
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,535,392
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 45,797,379
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,843,158
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,198,838
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (80,605)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (43)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3,945,028
<NET-ASSETS> 49,661,759
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 943,771
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,013,766
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 803,430
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,154,107
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 4,225,689
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (8,497,104)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (3,117,308)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,985,570)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (8,885,504)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 69
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (803,769)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 448,020
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (14,899,976)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 750,858
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 4,659,772
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 376,149
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 803,430
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 57,913,378
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 29.36
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.56
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.41
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.04)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (4.35)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 26.94
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.39
</TABLE>
