<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 8-K OF CHEMED CORPORATION FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000019584 <NAME> CHEMED CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <CASH> 8,153 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 58,561 <ALLOWANCES> (4,532) <INVENTORY> 10,540 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 105,618 <PP&E> 135,803 <DEPRECIATION> (62,662) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 423,380 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 100,073 <BONDS> 68,516 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 15,067 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,889 <OTHER-SE> 194,494 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 423,380 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 370,533 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 224,539 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,202 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,233 <INCOME-PRETAX> 25,575 <INCOME-TAX> 9,925 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,650 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,650 <EPS-BASIC> 1.59 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.57