What happened Shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ: WBA) fell 29.4% in 2020, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, as the pandemic and new competition hit the stock. Operationally, Walgreens is struggling with higher costs at a time when it's actually become a critical supplier. As it turns out, being on the front lines of a pandemic isn't necessarily good for the bottom line. Image source: Getty Images. So what It may seem counterintuitive, but the pandemic has actually had a negative impact on Walgreens' business. The company's margins were down dramatically last year, and you can see below that net income dropped as a result. There's pressure on reimbursements, and mix was negative due to COVID-19, so there simply wasn't the same margin Walgreens usually expects. WBA Revenue (Quarterly) data by YCharts To make matters worse, Amazon's (NASDAQ: AMZN) pharmacy launched late in the year and could take market share from traditional pharmacies. The pressure from online sales may not seem like a big deal now, but with locations across the country, real estate costs are high, and any loss in sales has a magnified effect on the bottom line. Now what I don't think a company like Walgreens is going anywhere anytime soon, given the critical services it supplies. But its bottom line may be under significant pressure as more people get their medical appointments and prescriptions online. This isn't a pharmacy stock I'm bullish on in 2021, despite the fact that shares are cheaper than they were a year ago. 10 stocks we like better than Walgreens Boots AllianceWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Walgreens Boots Alliance wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of November 20, 2020 John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Travis Hoium has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon and recommends the following options: long January 2022 $1920 calls on Amazon and short January 2022 $1940 calls on Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source