<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000353230 <NAME> OMNICARE, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 84,040 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 375,374 <ALLOWANCES> 26,605 <INVENTORY> 101,039 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 584,110 <PP&E> 207,662 <DEPRECIATION> 78,661 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,832,698 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 217,674 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 89,722 <OTHER-SE> 835,294 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,832,698 <SALES> 1,082,099 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,082,099 <CGS> 755,719 <TOTAL-COSTS> 755,719 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 202,652 <LOSS-PROVISION> 8,357 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,507 <INCOME-PRETAX> 94,053 <INCOME-TAX> 39,801 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 54,252 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 54,252 <EPS-PRIMARY> .61 <EPS-DILUTED> .61