NSAR-A

      PAGE  1
000 A000000 05/31/2000
000 C000000 0000930748
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 6.1
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 PUTNAM CLASSIC EQUITY FUND
001 B000000 811-7223
001 C000000 6712921000
002 A000000 ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000  0
007 C010100  1
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
008 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-7974
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02109
011 A000001 PUTNAM RETAIL MANAGEMENT, INC.
011 B000001 8-5088
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02109
012 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES
012 B000001 84-401299
012 C010001 BOSTON
012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02109
013 A000001 KPMG
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
      PAGE  2
013 B030001 02109
015 A000001 PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST CO
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02109
015 E010001 X
018  000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000   97
019 C000000 PUTNAMFUND
020 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
020 B000001 13-5674085
020 C000001    327
020 A000002 LEHMAN BROTHERS
020 B000002 13-2518466
020 C000002    302
020 A000003 INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGY
020 C000003    174
020 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY, DEAN WITTER
020 C000004    173
020 A000005 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
020 B000005 13-5108880
020 C000005    172
020 A000006 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
020 C000006    168
020 A000007 SALAMON BROTHERS
020 B000007 13-3082694
020 C000007     88
020 A000008 ROYAL ALLIANCE
020 C000008     81
020 A000009 SANFORD BERNSTEIN
020 C000009     80
020 A000010 BRIDGE TRADING CO
020 B000010 43-1034850
020 C000010     79
021  000000     2589
022 A000001 WARBURG S.G & CO., INC.
022 B000001 13-3340045
022 C000001    743605
022 D000001     35569
022 A000002 SALAMON BROTHERS
022 B000002 13-3082694
022 C000002    408416
022 D000002         0
022 A000003 MORGAN J.P SECURITIES
022 B000003 13-3224016
022 C000003    347395
022 D000003         0
022 A000004 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000004 13-2518466
      PAGE  3
022 C000004    285276
022 D000004      7084
022 A000005 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
022 C000005    266035
022 D000005         0
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY, DEAN WITTER
022 C000006     81258
022 D000006         0
022 A000007 MERILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER, & SMITH, INC
022 B000007 13-5674085
022 C000007     77087
022 D000007         0
022 A000008 DIRECT ASSOCIATES
022 C000008     67989
022 D000008         0
022 A000009 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO
022 B000009 13-5108880
022 C000009     56817
022 D000009      6992
022 A000010 HOUSEHOLD FINANCE
022 C000010     32544
022 D000010         0
023 C000000    2420844
023 D000000      51723
024  000000 N
025 A000001 J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES
025 B000001 13-3224016
025 C000001 E
025 D000001   20850
025 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER, & SMITH, INC.
025 B000002 13-5674085
025 C000002 E
025 D000002   17748
025 D000003       0
025 D000004       0
025 D000005       0
025 D000006       0
025 D000007       0
025 D000008       0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 Y
026 G020000 Y
026 H000000 N
027  000000 Y
028 A010000     48216
028 A020000    258078
      PAGE  4
028 A030000         0
028 A040000    149096
028 B010000     52897
028 B020000        -9
028 B030000         0
028 B040000    150380
028 C010000     40366
028 C020000        -3
028 C030000         0
028 C040000    136659
028 D010000     54340
028 D020000      7213
028 D030000         0
028 D040000    132187
028 E010000     60778
028 E020000        -2
028 E030000         0
028 E040000     77172
028 F010000     43387
028 F020000        -1
028 F030000         0
028 F040000     64780
028 G010000    299984
028 G020000    265276
028 G030000         0
028 G040000    710274
028 H000000    299984
029  000000 Y
030 A000000   2661
030 B000000  5.75
030 C000000  3.50
031 A000000    479
031 B000000      0
032  000000   2183
033  000000      0
034  000000 Y
035  000000   1922
036 A000000 Y
036 B000000      0
037  000000 N
038  000000      0
039  000000 N
040  000000 Y
041  000000 Y
042 A000000   0
042 B000000   0
042 C000000 100
042 D000000   0
042 E000000   0
042 F000000   0
042 G000000   0
      PAGE  5
042 H000000   0
043  000000   7945
044  000000      0
045  000000 Y
046  000000 N
047  000000 Y
048  000000  0.000
048 A010000   500000
048 A020000 0.650
048 B010000   500000
048 B020000 0.550
048 C010000   500000
048 C020000 0.500
048 D010000  5000000
048 D020000 0.450
048 E010000  5000000
048 E020000 0.425
048 F010000  5000000
048 F020000 0.405
048 G010000  5000000
048 G020000 0.390
048 H010000        0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000        0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000        0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 21500000
048 K020000 0.380
049  000000 N
050  000000 N
051  000000 N
052  000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 Y
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
      PAGE  6
056  000000 N
057  000000 N
058 A000000 N
059  000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061  000000      500
062 A000000 N
062 B000000   0.0
062 C000000   0.0
062 D000000   0.0
062 E000000   0.0
062 F000000   0.0
062 G000000   0.0
062 H000000   0.0
062 I000000   0.0
062 J000000   0.0
062 K000000   0.0
062 L000000   0.0
062 M000000   0.0
062 N000000   0.0
062 O000000   0.0
062 P000000   0.0
062 Q000000   0.0
062 R000000   0.0
063 A000000   0
063 B000000  0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 E000000 Y
067  000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069  000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 Y
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 Y
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 Y
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 Y
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 Y
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 Y
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 Y
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
      PAGE  7
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 N
070 N010000 N
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 N
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000   1231954
071 B000000   1681802
071 C000000   2474736
071 D000000   50
072 A000000  6
072 B000000      478
072 C000000    23706
072 D000000        0
072 E000000        0
072 F000000     6414
072 G000000       10
072 H000000        0
072 I000000     1486
072 J000000      -57
072 K000000      137
072 L000000       39
072 M000000       27
072 N000000        2
072 O000000        0
072 P000000        0
072 Q000000        0
072 R000000       14
072 S000000        7
072 T000000     7945
072 U000000        3
072 V000000        0
072 W000000      333
072 X000000    16360
072 Y000000        0
072 Z000000     7824
072AA000000        0
072BB000000   250890
072CC010000   133079
      PAGE  8
072CC020000        0
072DD010000     9010
072DD020000     4986
072EE000000   114806
073 A010000   0.1000
073 A020000   0.0500
073 B000000   1.3920
073 C000000   0.0000
074 A000000        1
074 B000000    33218
074 C000000        0
074 D000000        0
074 E000000        0
074 F000000  2334635
074 G000000        0
074 H000000        0
074 I000000        0
074 J000000        0
074 K000000        0
074 L000000     6655
074 M000000        0
074 N000000  2374509
074 O000000      769
074 P000000     4870
074 Q000000        0
074 R010000        0
074 R020000        0
074 R030000        0
074 R040000     4105
074 S000000        0
074 T000000  2364765
074 U010000    89850
074 U020000    91124
074 V010000    12.16
074 V020000    12.04
074 W000000   0.0000
074 X000000   166642
074 Y000000        0
075 A000000        0
075 B000000  2456782
076  000000     0.00
077 A000000 N
078  000000 N
080 A000000 FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY
080 B000000 NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C000000    85000
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000  96
082 A000000 N
082 B000000        0
083 A000000 N
      PAGE  9
083 B000000        0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000        0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
086 A010000      0
086 A020000      0
086 B010000      0
086 B020000      0
086 C010000      0
086 C020000      0
086 D010000      0
086 D020000      0
086 E010000      0
086 E020000      0
086 F010000      0
086 F020000      0
SIGNATURE   PAUL BUCUVALAS
TITLE       MANAGING DIRECTOR

EX-27

WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

 

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Classic Equity Fund


   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> CLASS A

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    2,123,408,678
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   2,367,853,155
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,655,535
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     732
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,374,509,422
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       769,054
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    8,975,519
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          9,744,573
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 2,374,707,169
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       89,850,269
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       92,165,521
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                      (7,771,000)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                 (246,615,797)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   244,444,477
<NET-ASSETS>                             2,364,764,849
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           23,705,921
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              478,130
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              16,359,709
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      7,824,342
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                 (250,889,895)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  133,078,611
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                    (109,986,942)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                  (9,010,346)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                 (114,805,557)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                     14,882,412
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               (26,595,489)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                          9,397,825
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                   (535,533,825)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                  269,816,800
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                      (604,811)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        6,414,359
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             16,622,337
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                     1,100,739,469
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.95
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .06
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.46)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.10)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.29)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.16
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .48
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0


 

EX-27

WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

 

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Classic Equity Fund


   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> CLASS B

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    2,123,408,678
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   2,367,853,155
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,655,535
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     732
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,374,509,422
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       769,054
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    8,975,519
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          9,744,573
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 2,374,707,169
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       91,124,245
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                      101,787,776
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                      (7,771,000)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                 (246,615,797)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   244,444,477
<NET-ASSETS>                             2,364,764,849
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           23,705,921
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              478,130
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              16,359,709
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      7,824,342
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                 (250,889,895)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  133,078,611
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                    (109,986,942)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                  (4,985,569)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                 (131,475,725)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      7,719,243
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               (28,584,162)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                         10,201,388
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                   (535,533,825)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                  269,816,800
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                      (604,811)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        6,414,359
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             16,622,337
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                     1,175,875,798
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.82
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.46)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.05)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.29)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.04
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .85
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0


 

EX-27

WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

 

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Classic Equity Fund


   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> CLASS C

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    2,123,408,678
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   2,367,853,155
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,655,535
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     732
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,374,509,422
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       769,054
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    8,975,519
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          9,744,573
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 2,374,707,169
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        3,023,524
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        2,399,426
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                      (7,771,000)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                 (246,615,797)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   244,444,477
<NET-ASSETS>                             2,364,764,849
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           23,705,921
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              478,130
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              16,359,709
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      7,824,342
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                 (250,889,895)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  133,078,611
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                    (109,986,942)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    (138,514)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                   (3,041,812)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      1,070,801
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (671,024)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            224,321
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                   (535,533,825)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                  269,816,800
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                      (604,811)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        6,414,359
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             16,622,337
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        32,988,107
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.91
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.46)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.06)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.29)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.12
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .85
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0


 

EX-27

WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

 

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Classic Equity Fund


   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> CLASS M

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    2,123,408,678
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   2,367,853,155
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,655,535
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     732
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,374,509,422
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       769,054
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    8,975,519
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          9,744,573
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 2,374,707,169
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       10,482,819
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       11,859,863
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                      (7,771,000)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                 (246,615,797)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   244,444,477
<NET-ASSETS>                             2,364,764,849
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           23,705,921
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              478,130
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              16,359,709
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      7,824,342
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                 (250,889,895)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  133,078,611
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                    (109,986,942)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    (763,704)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                  (15,280,228)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      1,060,371
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                (3,664,208)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                          1,226,793
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                   (535,533,825)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                  269,816,800
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                      (604,811)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        6,414,359
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             16,622,337
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       136,927,217
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.87
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.45)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.07)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.29)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.09
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .73
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0


 

EX-27

WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

 

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Classic Equity Fund


   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> CLASS Y

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    2,123,408,678
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   2,367,853,155
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,655,535
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     732
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,374,509,422
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       769,054
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    8,975,519
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          9,744,573
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 2,374,707,169
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          982,479
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          736,511
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                      (7,771,000)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                 (246,615,797)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   244,444,477
<NET-ASSETS>                             2,364,764,849
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           23,705,921
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              478,130
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              16,359,709
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      7,824,342
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                 (250,889,895)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  133,078,611
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                    (109,986,942)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (92,398)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                     (939,380)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        581,328
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (417,441)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             82,081
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                   (535,533,825)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                  269,816,800
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                      (604,811)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        6,414,359
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             16,622,337
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        10,251,360
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.96
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .08
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.47)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.12)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.29)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.16
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .35
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0