April 13 (Reuters) - National Healthcare Properties said on Monday it was targeting a valuation of about $1.1 billion in its U.S. initial public offering, the second real estate investment trust to hit the new listings markets in recent weeks.

The New York-based company said it was aiming to raise as much as $616 million by offering 38.5 million shares priced between $13 and $16 per share, as it unveiled the terms of its IPO.

The healthcare real estate sector has gained traction as a defensive investment amid broader market volatility, supported by demographic trends and investor appetite for businesses viewed as resilient.

National Healthcare Properties, a self-managed real estate investment trust, is seeking to tap public markets as it bets on rising demand for senior housing and healthcare real estate tied to an ageing U.S. population.

Its IPO launch follows the recent debut of senior housing REIT Janus Living, which was well received by investors, signaling renewed momentum for the sector.

The company, founded in 2012, owns a portfolio of senior housing communities and outpatient medical facilities across the United States.

Its portfolio consisted of 37 senior housing communities with 3,615 units and 130 outpatient medical facilities.

Wells Fargo Securities, Morgan Stanley and BMO Capital Markets are acting as lead book-running managers. The company intends to list on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "NHP".

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil and Prakhar Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)