<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 8-K OF CHEMED CORPORATION FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 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-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 20,197 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 56,128 <ALLOWANCES> (3,691) <INVENTORY> 9,267 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 109,664 <PP&E> 123,671 <DEPRECIATION> (52,226) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 420,093 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 86,566 <BONDS> 84,764 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,665 <OTHER-SE> 201,117 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 420,093 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 326,313 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 200,042 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 231 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,549 <INCOME-PRETAX> 24,758 <INCOME-TAX> 9,877 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,881 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,881 <EPS-BASIC> 1.42 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.41