<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001004990 <NAME> NCS Healthcare, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 23,779 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 146,540 <ALLOWANCES> 25,675 <INVENTORY> 38,632 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 197,780 <PP&E> 62,069 <DEPRECIATION> 25,619 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 532,692 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 58,031 <BONDS> 190,133 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 195 <OTHER-SE> 284,298 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 532,692 <SALES> 355,888 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 355,888 <CGS> 265,766 <TOTAL-COSTS> 265,766 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,666 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,160 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,087 <INCOME-TAX> 9,068 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,019 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,019 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.64 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.63