<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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 50,074 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 48,327 <ALLOWANCES> (3,085) <INVENTORY> 9,579 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 160,589 <PP&E> 100,150 <DEPRECIATION> (42,704) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 431,108 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 89,660 <BONDS> 82,079 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,138 <OTHER-SE> 210,889 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 431,108 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 279,872 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 174,059 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,019 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,397 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,121 <INCOME-TAX> 10,612 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,509 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,509 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.64