<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 8-K OF CHEMED CORPORATION FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 3O, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000019584 <NAME> CHEMED CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.0 <CASH> 14,522 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 59,658 <ALLOWANCES> (4,783) <INVENTORY> 10,267 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 111,340 <PP&E> 132,921 <DEPRECIATION> (60,198) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 427,891 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 109,635 <BONDS> 68,522 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 15,296 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,891 <OTHER-SE> 189,093 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 427,891 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 246,752 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 150,001 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 990 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,569 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,768 <INCOME-TAX> 6,753 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,015 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,015 <EPS-BASIC> 1.11 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.10