<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000901539
<NAME> "Strong Conservative Equity Funds, Inc."
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> Strong American Utilities Fund
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Oct-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> Nov-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> Apr-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 170297
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 205519
<RECEIVABLES> 3056
<ASSETS-OTHER> 17
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 208592
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2206
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 93
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2299
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 163323
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13167
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14242
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 211
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 7537
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 35222
<NET-ASSETS> 206293
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3463
<INTEREST-INCOME> 183
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1096)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2550
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 8784
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (6997)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4337
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2453)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (23398)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2729
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (5458)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1655
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (38438)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 113
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 22151
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 714
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1098
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 213078
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.18
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.25
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.19)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.76)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.67
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.00
</TABLE>