This study addresses new evidence on the relationship between social responsibility (SR) practices and the financial performance of Ecuadorian companies from the chemical-pharmaceutical sector. The research has a mixed component, in which experiences and opinions were collected from experts in the sector through focus groups; similarly, surveys were conducted to managers of 88 companies in the cities of Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador. Weighting methods were used to determine an SR index based on three pillars: a) economic, b) social and c) environmental dimensions, in order to explain the implementation level of socially responsible practices. Descriptive statistics and correlation techniques were used as well. The results highlight a positive relationship between the economic and environmental dimensions of SR and return on capital (ROC), as well as between the social dimension of SR and return on sales (ROS).