(Reuters) – Walgreens Boots Alliance on Thursday reported better-than-expected quarterly profit, as cost-cut measures and higher drug prices boosted its pharmacy operations, and the company nearly halved its dividend to accelerate its savings measures. Shares of the Deerfield-Illinois based company rose more than 3% as the U.S. pharmacy giant cut dividend payment by 48% to 25 cents per share. The stock lost about 30% in 2023. Fierce competition from rivals, sharply lower sales from COVID vaccines and testing, and decreased discretionary spending by inflation-weary consumers, have forced the co…