<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000353230 <NAME> OMNICARE, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 216,515 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 124,544 <ALLOWANCES> 5,631 <INVENTORY> 43,585 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 390,735 <PP&E> 84,470 <DEPRECIATION> 28,415 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 721,697 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 61,733 <BONDS> 1,992 <COMMON> 77,026 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 557,352 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 721,697 <SALES> 536,604 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 536,604 <CGS> 381,768 <TOTAL-COSTS> 381,768 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 90,326 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,614 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,652 <INCOME-PRETAX> 72,143 <INCOME-TAX> 28,693 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 43,450 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 43,450 <EPS-PRIMARY> .64 <EPS-DILUTED> .61