<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFROMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q OF CHEMED CORPORATION FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 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-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 54,027 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 47,123 <ALLOWANCES> (2,815) <INVENTORY> 9,153 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 164,656 <PP&E> 97,423 <DEPRECIATION> (40,903) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 435,682 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 90,568 <BONDS> 82,093 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,138 <OTHER-SE> 208,392 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 435,682 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 183,355 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 114,237 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 572 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,599 <INCOME-PRETAX> 19,337 <INCOME-TAX> 7,520 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,817 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,817 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.18 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.17