<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q OF CHEMED CORPORATION FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000019584 <NAME> CHEMED CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 72,820 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 77,645 <ALLOWANCES> (2,684) <INVENTORY> 8,917 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 179,786 <PP&E> 93,002 <DEPRECIATION> (38,514) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 452,567 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 97,711 <BONDS> 82,608 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,129 <OTHER-SE> 217,214 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 452,567 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 88,412 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 55,876 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 276 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (1,758) <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,320 <INCOME-TAX> 4,069 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,251 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,251 <EPS-PRIMARY> .63 <EPS-DILUTED> .62